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 WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps top health officials testified to Congress on Tuesday that they were never ordered to limit coronavirus testing, despite Trumps recent rally comment that he told his team to slow the testing down. Members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Anthony Fauci, Robert Redfield and Brett Giroir testified that they were committed to increasing the availability of effective, timely coronavirus testing. None of us have ever been told to slow down on testing, said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Its the opposite. Were going to be doing more testing, not less. Trump said during his rally Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., that he had told officials to lower the number of coronavirus tests to curb the rising infection rate in the country apparently concerned about the optics of the numbers. When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people, Trump said. Youre going to find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down, please. Multiple White House officials have since claimed that Trumps comment was a joke. Asked about it Tuesday morning, Trump said, I dont kid. By having more tests, we find more cases, Trump told reporters. Therefore, with tests, were going to have more cases. By having more cases, it sounds bad. But actually what it is, is were finding people, many of those people arent sick or very little. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Tuesday he believes Trump was telling the truth in Tulsa, claiming his actions show that he wants to wish the virus away. Of course, is he undermining testing across the country, Murphy said. He has been clear from the very beginning that he does not want to the American public to understand the scope of the epidemic. ... He has been completely transparent that he perceives personal weakness attached to increasing coronavirus numbers. The Trump administration is sitting on nearly $14 billion in funding that Congress appropriated for various relevant testing and tracing purposes that has not yet been allocated, dispersed or designated, Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., wrote Sunday in a letter to Alex Azar, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. The senators said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to award nearly $4 billion in funding that could be used for public health surveillance and contact tracing efforts. Also, very little of the $2 billion Congress set aside to provide free testing for the uninsured has been obligated. Weeks after Congress appropriated billions in testing money, the Trump administration announced in early May that Connecticut would soon get $100 million to $199 million of the funds. But state officials quickly said they had no idea how much money was on the way or when. State public health officials did not immediately respond to follow questions about that funding Tuesday. The administration used federal funds to launch 41 testing sites across the country, where the federal government provided supplies and lab contracts. Murphy said many of those sites have now closed or shifted to state and locally operated testing sites. He called coronavirus Trumps best friend. Howard Forman, Yale University professor of Public Health, Management and Economics, noted that the number of tests conducted per day was increasing for many weeks earlier in the pandemic leaving him impressed, but those numbers have now largely leveled off. Over the last six weeks, testing growth has slowed continually, Forman said. Giroir, assistant secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Tuesday the U.S. is now conducting about 500,000 tests a day. Giroir said in May the U.S. will be able to test up to 50 million people a month by September about 1.6 million tests a day. As of Monday, the CDC reported that 27 million tests total have been conducted in the U.S. to date with about 2.7 million, or roughly 10 percent, positive. Not all tests are reported to the CDC. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com: Twitter: @emiliemunson Police manipulation of evidence that led to a man being jailed for life for the murders of officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller was so great that the only remedy is immediate acquittal, the Court of Appeal has been told. Jason Roberts is serving a life sentence for the murders of Sergeant Silk and Senior Constable Miller, who were shot dead while on a stakeout in Moorabbin on August 16, 1998. Jason Roberts is escorted into court on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao A Supreme Court jury in 2002 found Roberts and Bendali Debs guilty of both murders. But Roberts maintains his innocence and denies that he was with Debs at the time. Roberts has been granted the right to appeal against his convictions after recent investigations revealed that officers who attended the scene and comforted the dying Senior Constable Miller had their witness statements revised and backdated and gave false or misleading evidence in court. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission of Kenya on Monday, June 22 summoned Kikuyu gospel artist John Muigai Njoroge over his latest socio-political hit song, Ino Migunda (These Lands). Released on June, 15 and trending at Number 1 with over 650K YouTube views as of Monday, the song faults the government on a number of issues such as land grabbing, demolitions, oppression and corruption. Muigai also tackles the issue of political dynasties while seemingly endorsing the son of a peasant, DP William Ruto, as the solution to the oppressive ruling class. A time is coming when the poor people will rise up and say no to this oppression. On that day, a house will burn in Kisumu while those in Kabarak will scream so hard they will be heard in Nyahururu and those at your Grandfathers house will escape on foot. In Kenya, when a poor mans child gets some money, he is a thief. But when the one from a dynasty becomes wealthy, it is deemed inheritance. We have been ruled by thieves since we were born but this one you are calling a thief will end the looting culture (Rutos image displayed), the musician sings in part. However, according to NCIC, Muigai Njoroges lyrics were not only threatening but also insulting and likely to affect harmonious coexistence between Kenyan communities. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia-led commission asked the musician to report to the NCICs Upper Hill offices on June 26, failure to which he will be cited for contempt of court. Take notice that pursuant to section 29 of the NCI act, summons issued by the commission must be obeyed as if such summons were issued by the High Court, the letter reads. Also Read: Bitter Root in Uhurus Leadership Should be Uprooted, Says Muigai New Delhi, June 23 : OnePlus CEO Pete Lau on Tuesday announced to launch a new affordable smartphone product line in India that will have top-of-the-line internals at more accessible price point. The new product team is led by Paul Yu, who headed product hardware development for previous flagship devices over the past five years. "We've also assembled a team of young, creative and enthusiastic OnePlus staff from all over the world, who have been working tirelessly over the past few months to bring this product line to life," Lau said in statement. He said that the company is going to start relatively small with this new product line by first introducing it in Europe and India. "Don't worry, we're also looking to bring more affordable smartphones to North America in the near future as well," he added. The Never Settle premium series has always been at the core of OnePlus for more than six years. OnePlus 8 Pro 5G was finally available for purchase in India via limited sale on June 15. Hit by production delays, the smartphone was launched in April and was initially scheduled to go on sale in India on May 29. "While we aim to provide a consistent supply for the OnePlus 8 Series 5G, with the stock of the product now being stable, there will be limited sales of OnePlus 8 Series 5G devices across channels," the company said in a statement. The OnePlus 8 Pro price in India has been set at Rs 54,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, while its 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option carries a price tag of Rs. 59,999. 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 Sorry! This content is not available in your region High cost of treatment and inadequate equipment at the countrys health facilities have been identified as major hindrances preventing sickle cell patients in seeking medical attention at the hospital. Averagely it is estimated to cost a sickle cell patient between GH1,000 to GH10,000 to undergo treatment at a major hospital like Komfo Anokye or Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, while machines such as indirect Ophthalmoscope, Fundus Camera, among others, used in treating sickle cell patients were said to be also not enough in health facilities in the country. Dr Philip Karikari, Medical Supt. of Seventh Day Adventist Hospital at Sunyani in the Bono Region disclosed this to media men on Friday to mark this years World Sickle Cell Day celebration. The World Sickle Cell day which falls on June 19 every year to create awareness on the disease was on the theme; Sickle cell is real; Youth know your status now, was attended by children and adults with sickle cell disease in the Sunyani Municipality. Dr Karikari explained that sickle cell was a genetic condition which had no cure but could be managed with administration of several drugs such as prophylaxis, hydroxyurea, as well as seeking early treatment. An ophthalmologist at the SDA hospital, Dr Louis Oteng Gyimah appealed to philanthropists to help supply the hospital with machines to enable the hospital treat people with the sickle cell disease at a cheaper cost, explaining that most sickle cell patients were low income earners making it difficult for them to afford treatment at the hospital. Ms Angelina A. Korang, Principal Physician Assistant at the SDA hospital on her part advised patients to eat nutritious meals, especially vegetables and fruits so as to enhance and boost immune system. Source: The Ghanaian Times 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| 2020-06-23 21:06:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved 1 billion U.S. dollars in loans for two projects in Indonesia as part of a coordinated international effort to support the Indonesian government's plans to strengthen the country's social safety nets, bolster its health response and stem the economic downturn from the coronavirus health crisis. The first loan, totaling 750 million dollars and cofinanced with the Asian Development Bank, will go toward bolstering economic aid for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, support for poor and vulnerable households, and strengthening the country's health care systems, AIIB said in an online statement. AIIB, in partnership with the World Bank, has approved an additional 250 million dollars to further strengthen the government's immediate health response, which includes readiness for testing, surveillance, prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as hospital readiness. "The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many developing countries to make difficult trade-offs to meet the urgent needs of their citizens. AIIB's support for Indonesia will contribute to the government's efforts to navigate these challenges during highly uncertain times," said AIIB Vice President D.J. Pandian. Pandian said that by tailoring its financial product offerings, AIIB has been able to deliver a timely and flexible response to its members to ensure economies will rebound as swiftly as possible. "Indonesia had demonstrated sound macroeconomic management prior to the shock and shown a solid commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We will continue to be responsive to the country's needs through the crisis, so that it may continue its upward trajectory," Pandian added. Enditem Shortly before the German government takes over the European Union Council presidency on July 1, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (Christian Social Union-CSU) has presented plans for a further tightening of European refugee policy. The core elements are the internment of refugees at the EUs external borders and the implementation of fast-track asylum procedures. Seehofers proposal for a reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) completely overturns international refugee law and perfects the EUs perfidious attacks on refugees. The plight of refugees is becoming more and more acute worldwide. On June 20, World Refugee Day, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that the number of refugees worldwide had doubled in the last 10 years. Nearly 80 million people were fleeing their homeland in 2019, almost 10 million more than a year ago, and more than ever before. Almost 30 million had to leave their country of origin and seek refuge in another country. But the European Union is systematically blocking access for these desperate people. Less than 10 percent of the new refugees who have arrived worldwide have managed to apply for asylum in an EU member state. The EU statistics authority registered just 600,000 asylum applications for the year 2019. This year, the coronavirus pandemic provided governments with a welcome pretext to close their borders. In the first six months of the year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) counted only about 25,000 arrivals on Europes Mediterranean coasts and land borders. Nevertheless, Seehofers Interior Ministry is seeking to destroy existing protections for refugees in Europe. The reason given for this is the failure of the Dublin system, according to which the EU country a refugee first enters is responsible for carrying out his or her asylum procedure and providing for his or her needs. This system has led to a disproportionate number of refugees having to be received and cared for by the border statesand especially by Mediterranean states such as Italy, Spain and Greece. At the same time, an agreement on the distribution of refugees within the EU failed due to the resistance of states that have no or only little-used external borders. As a solution, Seehofer now proposes a three-stage plan that radically reduces the number of refugees to be accepted and legitimizes the illegal practices at the EUs external borders and transposes them into EU law. The plan is to be implemented during the German EU presidency from July to December. The programme of the German government for the upcoming EU Council presidency states: Among other things, we want to introduce obligatory procedures at the EU external borders in order to categorize and examine asylum applications at an early stage within the framework of a preliminary procedure, and to refuse entry into the EU if there is an obvious lack of need for protection. The first pillar of Seehofers plan is a mandatory preliminary examination of asylum applications at the EUs external border. During this preliminary examinationa fast-track procedure without adherence to internationally binding standardsmeasures restricting freedom, if necessary, to ensure that those wishing to enter the EU do not evade the preliminary examination will be in place, according to the paper of the Interior Ministry. This means the EU setting up huge internment camps at its external borders, where refugees are not yet legally on EU territory, where they are to be detained and undergo a sorting process so that only a few will have access to a regular asylum procedure. With the perfidious sleight of handplacing the detention camps outside EU territorySeehofer is undermining the standards for asylum procedures binding on EU member states, as laid down in the Geneva Convention on Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights, among others. According to Seehofers plans, a newly founded European Asylum Authority (EUAA) will be responsible for the fast-track procedures, while the European border control authority Frontex will take over the task of deporting rejected refugees. To this end, Frontex is to be massively expanded. Both authorities would operate in a legal grey area. The refugee aid organization Pro Asyl has therefore sharply criticized the plans from the Interior Ministry. We reject mass procedures at the borders, said Pro Asyl managing director Gunter Burkhardt. In asylum proceedings at the EUs external borders, those affected could neither be given legal representation, nor would it be possible to have wrong decisions taken by the authorities reviewed by the courts. In detention camps, the rule of law is effectively suspended, said Burkhardt. The second pillar of Seehofers plan is the distribution among the EU member states of asylum seekers who have passed the preliminary examination. Since Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria categorically reject fixed quotas, Seehofer has included the principle of flexible solidarity in his paper. In Brussels, a handy translation has established itself for this, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung one takes refugees and the other supplies horse blankets. States that refuse to take in even one refugee should send police and border guards to stop refugees at the EUs external border. The border police and soldiers from these countries are notorious for their brutality in dealing with asylum seekers. The third pillar is designed to prevent refugees from moving from the country to which they have been allocated to an EU member state of their choice. Accommodation and social benefits will only be granted in the responsible member state, according to Seehofers paper. An asylum application in another member state should be immediately rejected as manifestly unfounded and the applicant sent back to the responsible state. The procedure outlined in Seehofers paper largely coincides with the plans being prepared in the EU Commission. Originally, EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen had intended to present a draft for a future European migration and asylum system as early as March, but now the draft is to be presented at the end of June. However, EU Commission Vice-President Margeritis Schinas has recently stated that EU authorities and EU regulations would take effect in the new system from the first moment, so that we can very quickly distinguish who is eligible for asylum and who is not. Like Seehofer, the EU Commission is trying to tighten up anti-refugee procedures at the external borders. Much of what Seehofer and the EU Commission are proposing is already being practised in individual EU states. Seehofer is essentially advocating a combination of the most inhumane practices. Internment and preliminary asylum checks at the EUs external borders are practised in so-called hotspots on Greek islands, such as Camp Moria on Lesbos, and have led to disastrous conditions in these camps. Germany has created a similar procedure with closed refugee camps with the Anchor Centres. The returning of rejected asylum seekers is part of the dirty refugee agreement between the EU and Turkey. Deportation back to the state responsible for the asylum procedure is already practised in the Dublin process, and withholding social benefits is common practice in many EU states. Recently, the Greek government decided to stop providing assistance to recognised asylum seekers, with the result that more and more refugees are becoming homeless and have to camp out and beg in the city centres. Internment camps and preliminary examinations, which take place outside EU territory, have so far only existed in a similar way in Viktor Orbans Hungary. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently condemned this practice as a violation of existing EU law. The conditions in the camp near Roszke on the Hungarian-Serbian border resembled imprisonment, the Luxembourg judges found. Asylum seekers, however, could only be detained if a justified order had been issued beforehand. The UNHCR is also concerned that the EU wants to seal itself off even more strongly against refugees. We urge countries not to tighten their borders, says a communication to the EU urging it to respect international obligations. The occasion was reports of sharply increasing pushbacks at Europes external borders. For example, the Greek coastguard acts violently against refugee boats, destroying the flotation chambers of inflatable boats, dismantling the engine and driving the boats out of Greek waters. In addition, refugees are said to have been abandoned on life rafts and left to their fate. In early March, Greek soldiers fired live ammunition at refugees on the land border with Turkey, killing at least three refugees. The Maltese and Italian coastguards also refuse to rescue refugees in the central Mediterranean and have closed their ports to refugees on the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic. They have also chartered a fishing boat to deport apprehended refugees back to inhumane Libyan detention camps. This is a blatant violation of the non-refoulement order, which forbids a country receiving asylum seekers from returning them to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution. Greece has completely suspended asylum procedures for months. Croatian border police systematically mistreat refugees who are apprehended near the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina. They have been beaten, robbed and recently even maltreated by painting coloured crosses on their heads. In all these cases, the refugees have been deprived of the right to apply for asylum. Seehofers plan will further encourage such practices, which are contrary to international law. Refugees must regard it as a mockery when the EU Commissioner responsible, Ylva Johannson, and High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell said in a press statement on the occasion of World Refugee Day: The European Union reaffirms its unbroken solidarity with the millions of people who flee their country and sometimes have to leave their families behind because their homeland is no longer safe. Nothing could be further from the truth than this brazen lie. Johannson and Borrell continued, The EU is committed to upholding the Geneva Convention on Refugees, which is the cornerstone of refugee protection. It also insists on respect for the right to asylum and the principle of non-refoulement as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It is essential that these fundamental principles continue to apply worldwide during the coronavirus pandemic so that those in need can continue to have access to procedures for international protection and find protection. The events of recent weeksthe targeted mistreatment of refugees, the systematic refusal to carry out asylum procedures, the crackdown on refugees in the Mediterranean who are drowning en masseshow that exactly the opposite is happening. Seehofers plans are aimed at legitimising the breach of international law that has already taken place, at making it general EU practice and at perfecting the sealing off of Europe against refugees. (CNN) -- Marisa Bello always dreamed of getting married under the stars, and she wasn't about to let a global pandemic stop her. So back in March, when her home state of Nevada started shutting down to minimize the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, she and her fiance, Luis, made plans to drive across the state line into Utah and elope. They got married on April 3, and the Bellos set up a laptop camera to stream the wedding online so friends and family could follow along. There were vows. There was dancing. There were tears. And, yes, it all unfolded under the stars. "It wasn't exactly how we imagined it, but it was intimate and wonderful anyway," said Marisa Bello, a Catholic school principal who lives in Las Vegas. "Since we couldn't celebrate with everyone in real life, we just wanted to do something that would bring love into everybody's living room." The Bellos aren't the only couple to pivot to a virtual wedding since the pandemic began. Across the country, a growing number of lovebirds are deciding to get married now. As more couples take this approach, some can't-miss strategies have emerged. Slay the technology Perhaps the most important step in organizing a virtual wedding is making sure the virtual part works. This means nailing the technology, at least as best you can. Many couples who have gone the virtual route have gravitated toward running the event on Zoom, a Web-based platform that many businesses are using to facilitate videoconferencing. The benefit: The technology fosters intimacy and camaraderie by displaying small video boxes of everyone in attendance. The downside: Sometimes sound can be a problem. One way to avoid hiccups is to do a dress rehearsal before the event. Maryssa Souza, owner of Save the Date! Weddings & Events in Sonoma County, California, was wishing she had done just that after she helped two local clients who got married in their backyard. During the event, the photographer's wife managed the technology and had to pause before the ceremony and mute everyone's microphones to avoid background noise. "The audio was better than expected, but [considering it was] the first virtual wedding we have experienced, there is always room for improvement," Souza wrote in a recent email. Because the wedding took place on such a warm and sunny day, the photographer set up a giant umbrella to shade the equipment so the devices would not overheat, she added. As virtual weddings become more prevalent over the next six months, couples may need to start thinking about production from a different point of view, said Genevieve Roja, founder and principal at Lily Spruce, a wedding planning company in San Bruno, California. "What we're talking about basically is TV production," she said. "Each of these is a show." Embrace the rituals that matter most Just because a wedding isn't taking place in a traditional setting doesn't mean the bride and groom should abandon wedding traditions that are important to them. For some, this has meant virtual bachelor and bachelorette parties that include toasts, roasts and, in some cases, dancing. For others, it has been a virtual cocktail hour between the ceremony and reception. For Lauren Picard, it was a Zoom bridal shower on April 11, about a month before her small and private in-person wedding ceremony in Ronan, Montana. The shower was thrown by Lauren's mother, Debbie Picard. She recruited 20 women in all, including grandmas and great aunts who had never participated in a video conference until that day. Once the old-timers had been trained in the new technology, each participant shared a memory of Lauren or a piece of advice for a happy marriage. "It was really special because everyone got to hear what Lauren has meant to them through the years," said Debbie Picard, who lives in Lolo, Montana. "There were quite a few tears shed, and it definitely touched Lauren's heart with all the heartfelt sentiment." Rajat Dewan and his bride, Jill, chose to include a different tradition in their virtual wedding: live music. The Dewans live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and were married May 15. As part of the ceremony, they welcomed Erin Zindle, who performed the love song "Medicine," which she normally sings with a band called The Ragbird. The song was originally written for mandolin, but Zindle played it on the keyboard. Family members who logged in from all over the world India, New Zealand, Luxembourg, England and Italy were all represented appreciated the touch. "It was different [because it was virtual], but it was also familiar enough that people enjoyed it," Rajat Dewan said. Get a witness (or 10) Most current shelter-in-place orders allow for small groups of people to congregate in the same place at the same time, so long as attendees are wearing face coverings and standing at least 6 feet apart. This means some couples are inviting a handful of close family members and friends to witness the festivities in person. The Bellos certainly did this, shuttling roughly 10 people from Las Vegas to Utah for their ceremony at The Springs in Toquerville, Utah. Two other Las Vegans, Brittany and Daryl DuPree, took a similar approach. This couple got married May 1. To pull it off, they met up with about a dozen family members at a local park, where they had a friend act as wedding officiant and walk them through the ceremony. The park was near Brittany's mother's house, so Brittany put on her wedding dress in the backyard. During the ceremony, Brittany walked down a makeshift aisle with her father. He held one end of a 6-foot-long streamer, and she held the other. Afterward, they went back to Brittany's mother's house and set up in the driveway to receive friends for a drive-by toast. "In so many ways what we ended up doing was perfect because it was crazy, and that's exactly what we're like," she said. "I had to let go of all the stuff I couldn't control and just appreciate what we were able to do. "The next day one of my aunts wrote me and said she loved the wedding because it was simple and genuine, and it focused on what mattered most." Provide physical mementos Jordan almonds. Yarmulkes. Beer cozies. Bottle openers. These items all are popular wedding favors at least they were before the coronavirus turned the wedding industry upside down. Virtual weddings can incorporate physical favors, too. Newlyweds just need to get creative. That's what Genny and David Velazquez, residents of Stamford, Connecticut, who tied the knot May 9 in Florence, South Carolina, did. The couple had been planning their big day since late 2018, and Genny spent most of last year handcrafting blue-and-white ceramic coasters as favors to commemorate the occasion. When they decided to pivot to a virtual affair, the couple decided to distribute the favors anyway. The duo gave out about 100 of the favors to friends and family members who formed a car parade past Genny's parents' house after the virtual ceremony, which was held in a local church. Genny will save the rest to distribute in person when the pandemic is over. "I'm not going to mail them," she said. "As I see people, I'll give them out and that way I'll make sure I get to see everyone who would have been there." Other couples have reached out to guests with different physical trinkets. Jenna Miller, creative director of Here Comes the Guide, a website with resources for wedding planning, said some almost-marrieds have sent guests care packages that include non-perishable hors d'oeuvres, little cupcakes and splits of sparkling wine. She added that other virtual wedding care packages have created physical books composed of photos and testimonials that guests submitted ahead of time. "People are getting very creative there's really no limit to the kinds of things you can put together," she said. "Anything you can do to make guests feel more involved in the day is going to add to the sense of intimacy and connection." Hold space for guests Since most guests can't attend virtual weddings in real life, it's important to welcome those who show up in virtual space, and provide different opportunities for them to celebrate before, during and after the main event. Souza, the wedding planner, said her virtual wedding clients invited guests to prepare remarks to share during the reception, and several attendees did just that. The DuPrees, from Las Vegas, kept their virtual chapel running after the ceremony had ended, and members of Daryl DuPree's family ended up spending a few hours catching up among themselves. "Some of these relatives hadn't seen each other in years," he said. "It was like they had a mini-reception without us. It was one of the most natural pieces of the whole experience." In some cases, offering guests a chance to interact virtually can lead to humorous encounters, too. Lani Mesmer and her husband attended the Velazquez wedding reception while sitting by the pool at their home outside Orlando, Florida. At one point, knowing most of the other guests were from the Northeast where it was snowing in some places Mesmer and her husband turned around so their pool and palm trees were behind them, with their kids swimming in the pool. One of the other guests noticed immediately and took issue with the fact that the couple was enjoying such paradise. "[He said,] 'Who are the Mesmers? That's not very nice!'" Mesmer said. "I'll always remember the feeling of sitting by my own pool drinking a margarita while 'attending' a wedding in South Carolina!" Consider a renewal down the road While a virtual wedding makes a statement that love trumps coronavirus, online nuptials don't have to be the only statement in a couple's narrative of commitment. The DuPrees, for instance, already are planning a "weddingversary" party for May 1, 2021, at which they can celebrate their first anniversary in person with all the people who participated in the virtual event this year. The Dewans will throw an in-person party as well perhaps even in India, where Rajat Dewan is from. Jill Dewan, who was eight months pregnant at press time, said she viewed the virtual wedding as one step in a multipart process. "Our intention all along was to have a more traditional ceremony and reception after the baby is born," she said. "We did the virtual thing. A more formal wedding in real life at some point [in the future] will only give us more to celebrate." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Virtual weddings done right by couples undeterred by the pandemic" First rescued snow leopard cub in India returns to mother Third Pole June snow in Siberias south as highest-ever Arctic heat is recorded in Russias coldest region Siberian Times US dollar funding: an international perspective (PDF) Committee on the Global Financial System, Bank of International Settlements China warned to prepare for being cut off from US dollar payment system as part of sanctions like Russia South China Morning Post Global Markets Face Reckoning With Risks Coming True All at Once Bloomberg #COVID-19 China? National Gallery of Australia to shed staff and slash acquisitions from 3,000 to 100 a year Guardian. 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Class Warfare Why some physicists really think theres a mirror universe hiding in space-time Live Science Vast neolithic circle of deep shafts found near Stonehenge Guardian Extreme climate after massive eruption of Alaskas Okmok volcano in 43 BCE and effects on the late Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Kingdom PNAS The City of Philadelphia is cracking down on dumpster pools Billy Penn Petition to rename Columbus, Ohio, Flavortown to honor Guy Fieri attracts thousands of signatures The Hill. I am here for this, as I was here for Boaty McBoatface. Antidote du jour (via): Normally I dont do zoos, but Gloria the Baby Hippo is very cute: OUT FOR A SWIM: Gloria the baby hippo takes her first dip in the deep end of the pool at France's Beauval zoo with her mother, Bolinhas, closely monitoring the situation. https://t.co/nFPPs49oVC pic.twitter.com/dUs9cvIJqg ABC News (@ABC) June 23, 2020 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. For years, animal rights activists in China have lobbied policy-makers, organized education drives and staged protests to persuade the government and the public to support banning the eating of dogs and cats. They scored few concrete wins. The coronavirus, which spread from a food market in China, changed everything. After the national government suspended the sale of wildlife in February, the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai became the first in the country to ban the consumption of cats and dogs. Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture, in a major step, removed dogs from its list of approved domesticated livestock, referring to dogs for the first time as companion animals. Even in the southern Chinese city of Yulin, a dog meat festival that has long courted controversy opened on Sunday to less fanfare than in past years, as fears of the virus kept revelers away. We have been working on this issue for years, but the government kept passing the buck, said Cynthia Zhang, a Guangzhou-based animal welfare activist. So we are using the epidemic as an opportunity to try to push through as much legislation as possible. It is long-fought validation for a loose but fast growing network of local animal welfare activists. While Chinas practice of eating dog meat has received global attention from celebrities including British comedian Ricky Gervais and American reality television star Lisa Vanderpump, an often overlooked group of animal activists and pet lovers has been the on-the-ground force for change in communities and cities across the country. They have succeeded despite growing pushback from nationalistic critics who say that eating dog meat is a Chinese tradition, no different than the American love of turkey. The animal activists have managed to carve out a space for their work in a country where advocacy and dissent have rapidly shrivelled under Chinas leader Xi Jinping. While human rights lawyers and womens rights activists are regularly targeted by the Communist Party, animal protection is seen as a relatively fringe issue and less menacing to the party giving activists more room to manoeuvre. Over the years, they have petitioned lawmakers and set up animal shelters. Some of the more zealous players have intercepted trucks carrying dogs for slaughter and lobbied on the steps of government agencies. At least a few hundred formal and informal groups across the country are estimated to be working on animal protection issues. It remains to be seen how the new guidelines will be enforced. China still lacks national laws banning animal cruelty and the consumption of dogs and cats all of which activists say are crucial to fully eliminating the practice. But their efforts have received tacit backing from the fast-growing number of pet owners in China, drawn mostly from the countrys booming middle class. One recent survey conducted by local animal associations found that there were 55 million pet dogs in China last year, up eight per cent from the year before. As their legions have grown, so too has support for banning dog meat consumption. The younger generation of Chinese is more international, they have more universal values, said Qin Xiaona, founder of Beijings Capital Animal Welfare Association. The officials are getting younger, too. One activist, Qi Qi, 37, started pressing the issue in 2014 when she answered a call for help on social media from volunteers who had intercepted a truck with hundreds of dogs on the outskirts of Beijing. Over two days, Qi helped care for the dogs as the volunteers negotiated with police and the driver to hand over the animals. Qi went on to participate in about 20 truck rescues, though not all were as successful. Recently, Qi and her husband have shifted their focus to raising awareness. The couple recently opened a cafe in a trendy Beijing shopping mall where they host talks about animal protection and donate a portion of their proceeds to local trap-neuter-release efforts. Earlier this month, when a truck full of dogs was intercepted in northeastern China, Qi stood with a group of volunteers outside the Ministry of Agriculture every day for a week to urge officials to intervene by putting pressure on local authorities to release the dogs. We dont say its to protect dogs, but rather to enforce the law and safeguard public health, said Qi. In China, if you say you are doing this because you are a dog lover, a lot of people will be turned off, so we try to circle around it. Zhang, the Guangzhou-based activist, said that for years, she and a group of volunteers had taken a more combative stance, staging protests at local government offices and going head-to-head with dog meat vendors. The space for doing our work has shrunk, Zhang said. She noted that authorities had shut down several active animal protection group discussions on the popular social messaging app WeChat after some members had criticized the government. There is still room to get our message out there, she said. As long as you dont criticize the government. Several years ago, Zhang said, they changed tactics to take a more positive approach, focusing their efforts on reaching out to national policy-makers instead. Zhang figures that her group has sent out thousands of letters to delegates to Chinas top legislative bodies in recent years informing them about the dismal conditions of the dog meat trade, which is largely unregulated in China. Since there are few legal dog farms in China, activists say that most of the countrys dog meat comes from captured strays or stolen pets. In 2015, Zhang said she and her colleagues were able to convince one delegate, a vegetarian, to propose a bill to ban the slaughter and consumption of cats and dogs at the annual gathering of Chinas top law-making body. The proposal sparked a national conversation, and more lawmakers began to show interest. But it wasnt until the unexpected emergence of the coronavirus earlier this year and the renewed scrutiny over the wildlife trade in China that some of the policies long under discussion gained traction. China has been in a civil war between animal lovers and people who support dog meat consumption, and the animal lovers are gaining the upper hand, said Peter J. Li, a China policy adviser with Humane Society International. The Chinese government sees this. Persuading the public can still be an uphill battle. The practice of eating dog meat is limited to a few areas of China and most people do not eat it regularly. Instead, defenders often subscribe to a belief that while I may not eat dog meat, I support your right to do so. Xu Zhe, 22, a recent college graduate from the northeastern city of Dalian, said he eats dog meat once a year during the Chinese New Year and had no qualms about it even though he grew up with a dog at home. I have a deep connection with my dog, but not with the dog Im eating, Xu said. The environment, though, is improving, even in the home of the Yulin Lychee and Dog Meat Festival. While activists say many locals still eat dog meat, local officials, facing domestic and international pressure, have distanced themselves from the festival in recent years. Activists on the ground said that the atmosphere was noticeably quieter compared with past years, with far fewer visitors. Read more about: The suspension of green cards and non-immigrant visas may have limited impact on India, according an initial estimate by the government, CNBC-TV18 reported. The government is assessing the fineprint of the US visa restrictions, the report added. Also read: What is the actual impact of Trumps H-1B visa ban and other questions answered The outflow of new US visa holders from India was already down due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the report said. In a regular year, 45,000 H-1B visas are issued to Indians. Over 3 lakh H1B holders are already in the US. The number of Indians who will be impacted by US visa renewal is small, the report added. India is expected to get a major chunk of a merit-based visa system that is under consideration in the US, the report said. Click here to read all the coverage on the H-1B visa ban (This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.) Life after COVID-19 lockdown: New Zealand churches returning to normal, give advice to US Christians Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Earlier this month, New Zealand announced that it was lifting restrictions on public gatherings aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, having gone several days without any new cases. The island nation instituted a series of shutdown measures back in March, including a travel ban on foreigners to the country and restrictions on mass gatherings. A return to normal activities and public events in New Zealand has also included its churches, which overwhelmingly followed the lockdown rules. The Christian Post interviewed a few churches to get their perspective on the lockdown, how they adapted to the situation, and what advice they have for Christians in the United States. Adapting to the shutdowns To respond to the coronavirus, New Zealand enacted a 4-level national alert system, with each level varying in the extent to which in-person contact was restricted. Level 4, or "lockdown," was enacted on March 25 and involved shutting down the country due to high risk, with the situation being the virus was not contained. Level 1, "prepare," involved the virus being contained within the country, albeit still not contained abroad. The nation went into level 1 on June 8. Ian Faulkner, minister at Auckland Methodist Central Parish, told CP that all Methodist church services were suspended during government lockdown. One response in the Auckland Methodist Central Parish was to create a webpage based virtual church service that I contributed to. Eleven services were conducted in this way from Palm Sunday until 7 June, Faulkner said. I appreciated that a telephone-tree maintained by lay members was operating to keep others in touch with what was happening and to check on their wellbeing. For them, indoor worship began last Sunday, with a service in English and one in Fijian, an Asian Pacific language spoken by a growing number of people in New Zealand. The Rev. Helen Jacobi of St. Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland, an Anglican congregation, said they had no choice but to close as every activity was closed in our level 4 lockdown. We prerecorded videos for Sunday mornings which were on our website, YouTube and Facebook, noted Jacobi. We then held a congregational zoom meeting each Sunday where we shared news and discussed the weekly readings in small groups. Jacobi reported getting good viewing numbers for the online worship videos, with more people tuning in than had previously attended services in person. She reported staying home for six weeks, followed by two Sundays where worship involved social distancing, no singing, no morning tea. When they returned to the normal worship setting, Jacobi told CP the congregation was particularly thrilled as they could finally catch up and spend time with each other. Pixie Rowe, wife of the Very Rev. David Rowe, dean of Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul, and herself a native of the United States, told CP that they switched to online services fairly quickly due to many of their congregation being senior citizens, a major at-risk population for the pandemic. We therefore recorded in advance, the first three Sundays services. We also recorded daily prayers, and those have continued to be available through our website, Rowe said. After the Easter season, we began doing Zoom services, and these were again well received. A large number of our older folk were already used to zoom as many people here have relatives elsewhere in the world. As with St. Matthew-in-the-City, Wellington Cathedral saw a higher viewership for their online services than previous in-person attendance figures, with Rowe estimating that they had about four times the viewers for the video prayers as they had for morning prayers. Services returned to the Cathedral when the nation went down to level 2, but still included safety measures such as not serving drinks, having only wafers for Communion and not wine, using hand sanitizer, and no touching during the passing of the peace. The whole building had been cleaned professionally as well, she recalled. This ended up only being one week, but the turnout was very good. An absence of defiance In the U.S., the majority of churches have adhered to limits on in-person worship services, with most switching to online services. Nevertheless, many congregations have resisted state government-imposed restrictions, with some considering lockdown measures to be a violation of their religious freedom rights. None of the ministry leaders in New Zealand that CP interviewed reported defying government lockdown orders, neither could they recollect any specific congregations that defied the orders. Jacobi of St. Matthew-in-the-City told CP that there was extremely good acceptance from all of us regarding the government lockdown rules. New Zealand has a very different system of government and cultural understanding of individual rights than the U.S., she said. We did not hesitate to comply for the good of the majority and the police were also very quick to stop people out and about under level 4 to check they were authorized to be out. Faulkner of Methodist Central recalled hearing about one church that held drive-in services in which some of the people left their cars despite being told to stay inside their vehicles. Gary Corbett, an administrator with Ponsonby Baptist Church of Auckland, told CP that neither his church nor any he knew of had attempted to defy the lockdown orders. As part of their efforts to help during the shutdown, Ponsoby Baptist set up a virtual community cupboard in which people could take and leave food items. A fund was set up which received donations for church funds and from church people. Anyone could apply for a small emergency grant for food or other expenses, Corbett added. So far there has been only two grants given out, which was less than we expected. There may be more applications in future as the economic fallout of the pandemic continues to bite. Rowe of Wellington Cathedral also told CP that she did not know of any churches that had defied the government orders, including smaller home gatherings. People here in Wellington were very careful and did not even travel much further than 5 miles from home. Some never used their cars for over six weeks, Rowe said. She noted that there was a great deal of communication through texting and messaging among Cathedral members, especially during the first few weeks of the shutdown. They also oversaw the dropping off of food with notes of encouragement among various neighborhoods in the country, with Rowe reporting that prayer requests and offers of help became the new normal. Advice for American churches While New Zealand has fully reopened, much of the U.S. maintains varying levels of in-person gathering restrictions, with several states gradually easing them in recent weeks. When asked to give advice to American churches still weathering the restrictions, Corbett of Ponsonby Baptist said to be responsible and follow strict physical distancing guidelines. We should surely be an example of looking out for others well-being and unselfishness, he suggested. Rowe recommended both staying indoors but also keeping up communication with others even as one keeps distance for health reasons. Ring your congregation, text them, shop for them. Keep your distance and think of others, pray for them, wave to them, Rowe added. You have more televised services already than anywhere in the world. Use them, email your fellow believers, encourage each other, and dont make it a political thing. Just love them like Jesus. When you get back together, you can rejoice. Faulkner offered positive encouragement, telling CP that American congregations to be assured that you will be able to meet again. The health and well-being of people is a paramount Gospel approach to the crisis that surrounds us. Best of all, we are with God, Faulkner said. Darcie Moran | Detroit Free Press Yes, Siri can help iPhone users record police interactions. The add-on Apple Shortcut Im getting pulled over has resurfaced online and in the news amid conversations in Michigan and across the world concerning police brutality following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The add-on was developed by Reddit user Robert Petersen during the 2018 release of iOS 12, which included a new "Shortcuts" app. The app, in general, is designed to streamline tasks and commands through Siri. Though some Shortcuts, like audio readings of emails, are already available for setup once the app has been downloaded, Petersens creation can be pulled off Reddit for use. The Shortcut pauses any music that may be playing, turns down brightness and volume, turns on Do Not Disturb, and sends a message and the users location to a contact of choice to let them know about the police stop, Petersen explained in a Reddit post. The Shortcut also opens the devices front camera and starts a video recording. Once the user ends the recording, it is sent to the chosen contact and the user can choose to send it to iCloud Drive or Dropbox as well. In addition, the volume and brightness return to normal and Do Not Disturb turns off. Interviewed by USA TODAY in 2018, Petersen said hed read news articles and seen T.V. reports with police giving a different version of events than civilians. He noted that police dont always have body cameras and videos those arent always quickly released. My only goal with the Police shortcut is trying to help people stay safe and honest, he told USA TODAY. 99.999% of the time youll never need it, but if you end up in a situation where it ended up being a good idea, youll be thankful you did. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday expanded the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing norms, advising that all hospitals, offices and public sector units be enabled to conduct rapid antibody tests, and recommending the deployment of rapid antigen tests in all containment zones, and hospitals and private labs across the state. While the antibody-based test can be used as a surveillance method to check if a person was infected by the Sars-CoV-2 virus at some point, tests through new antigen devices can be carried out on-site and provide results within 30 minutes. The rapid antigen tests were recently deployed in Delhi and have been hailed by experts for speeding up the test-trace-isolate process. It is advised to enable all government and private Hospitals, offices, public sector units etc. to perform the antibody-based testing. This will help in allaying the fear and anxiety of health care workers, office employees etc.., a statement released by ICMR said. ICMR recommends deployment of the rapid antigen PoC (point of care) test in the following settings: i) All containment zones identified by the State Governments, ii) All Central & State Government Medical Colleges and Government hospitals, iii) All private hospitals approved by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare (NABH), iv) All private labs accredited by National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) and approved by ICMR as COVID-19 testing labs, Indias apex biomedical research body said. The private sector welcomed the move. We had raised the issue that we needed some clarity on whether we can perform antibody and antigen based tests. Its good to know that government has come out with a revised advisory as it will be important to know how many have had exposure to the virus, especially in the health care sectors, said Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director, Apollo Hospitals. Speaking about the efficacy of the rapid antigen test, Dr Navin Dang said: Antigen testing is point of care testing for time is of essence in conducting an antigen based test. It has to be done within an hour so if offices or other places have been allowed which means booths will have to be set-up on site itself. It is doable but modalities will have to be worked out so as to not compromise the sanctity of a sample. An antigen is a molecule that induces an immune response within the body, especially the production of antibodies, and detecting its presence determines a present infection. Antigen-based tests ensure rapid diagnosis and they take about 30 minutes to present results, as opposed to nearly six hours taken by the RT-PCR test. It is a point-of-care test and does not require specialised laboratory facilities in terms of equipment, biosafety and biosecurity. It can be read through the naked eye without any specialised equipment. The research body said that all the positive results for any kind of Covid-19 test must be registered. All data of testing needs to be entered into the ICMR portal on a real time basis, the advisory said. ICMR said in its statement that in an effort to ramp up testing capacity in the country, it has approved a total of 1,000 Covid-19 testing labs in public (730) and private (270) sectors. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Updated at 8:05 a.m. ET on 2020-06-24 Kuala Lumpur city officials on Tuesday defended a decision to restrict refugees and migrants from entering Pasar Borong, Malaysias largest wholesale market, saying the move was necessary to prevent more outbreaks of the coronavirus. Police last month detained about 1,000 foreign workers including many Rohingya who live near the market. An outbreak of COVID-19 had led to the market closing in late April before it reopened in mid-May. During the Movement Control Order (MCO), the KL wholesale market was one of the locations that were identified as part of the Pasar Borong COVID-19 cluster, a statement issued by the City Council said Tuesday, referring to the name of the market in Malay. As the source of virus infection had been traced to foreigners, it is warranted for their movement at the market to be monitored and further restricted. This is to ensure that the wholesale market can continue to function without any hiccup because it is one of the centers of businesses in this city, city officials said. The statement said exceptions would be made for foreigners with valid papers and who were employed by retailers in the market as long as they were accompanied by their Malaysian employer. The city council in Malaysias capital issued the statement to clarify a notice that it had sent out on Friday, and which went viral online and sparked criticism. In its original notice, City Hall announced that people who held refugee cards issued by UNHCR, the U.N.s refugee agency, were not allowed to enter the wholesale market. The original notice said foreigners did not need to shop at the wholesale market because they could purchase supplies from nearby non-wholesale markets. It said the move was needed to prevent refugees from buying food items in bulk and selling them to others illegally. Officials at the Kuala Lumpur office of UNHCR did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BenarNews. The area surrounding the market was placed on special lockdown on April 20 after authorities detected a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. The infection cluster spread to a total of 204 people and officials reported that one foreigner had died of the coronavirus. To buy onions you need to be chaperoned? Jerald Joseph, a member of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), questioned the need to restrict entry to the market for foreigners. It just doesnt make sense to not allow refugees with UNHCR cards to enter the wholesale market. It discriminates by not allowing people their basic need for food to survive, he told BenarNews. Same goes for restrictions toward migrants. It makes it difficult for migrant workers ... just to buy onions you need to be chaperoned? Joseph said the ban would make refugees lives difficult and push them closer to exploitation. They are already in a vulnerable situation and imposing such conditions is heaping more difficulty on them, and its ridiculous. They have to rely on peoples mercy forever and may be more easily exploited, he said. Adrian Pereira, executive director of the North-South Initiative, an NGO that monitors human rights and assists migrant workers, accused city officials of discriminating against foreigners. Malaysian authorities clearly dont know what discriminatory or discrimination means. Controlling re-sales can be done in other non-racist manners, he said. Meanwhile, Alex Ong, coordinator for Migrant Care, a human rights group, agreed with the order. Migrant workers had to abide by the countrys laws and provisions of their work permits, he said. In Malaysia, refugees are not allowed to have jobs. As for refugees, Malaysia needs to create a relevant policy for them to work and be protected like other migrant workers. So far, there is no working policy on refugees the Malaysian government and UNHCR need to reach a consensus on this, he told BenarNews. CORRECTION: An earlier version incorrectly stated that an exception would be made for those with U.N. refugee cards. MIAMI (AP) Venezuela's socialist government tried to recruit then-Congressman Pete Sessions to broker a meeting with the CEO of Exxon Mobil at the same time it was secretly paying a close former House colleague $50 million to keep U.S. sanctions at bay, The Associated Press has learned. An official at state-run oil giant PDVSA sent an email to the Texas Republican on June 8, 2017 seeking his help arranging a meeting between Venezuela's oil minister and Darren Woods, then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's successor at the helm of the Irving, Texas-based Exxon. The purpose: to lure Exxon back to Venezuela after a decade's absence and inject much-needed dynamism into the OPEC nation's collapsing oil industry. The email, which was seen by the AP, has been shared with U.S. federal law enforcement looking into the person who allegedly instructed the PDVSA official to send the email to Sessions: former Miami Congressman David Rivera, according to two people familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the politically sensitive matter. Rivera at the time was collecting part of a whopping $50 million contract for three months of consulting work for an American unit of PDVSA a business deal now being investigated by federal prosecutors in Miami because he never registered as an agent of a foreign government. Its not clear how Sessions, who is running again for Congress this fall, acted on the request, though he did not reply directly to the email. In any case, Exxon rebuffed the sought-after meeting in Dallas, according to the two people. But Sessions did engage in other mediation efforts in Venezuela over the next 15 months. At the urging of a Venezuelan media mogul who would go on to become a top U.S. fugitive, he secretly traveled to Caracas in April 2018 for a meeting with President Nicolas Maduro. The businessman, Raul Gorrin, was present at the meeting and Rivera served as a translator, a third person familiar with the visit said, also on condition of anonymity. A few months later Sessions phoned the socialist leader with Rudy Giuliani, the U.S. president's personal lawyer, around the same time both men were involved in another shadow diplomatic effort to fire the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Both men's interest in Venezuela and Sessions' advocacy of a Trump-Maduro meeting came as a surprise to John Bolton, according to the former National Security Adviser's new book on his time at the White House. The AP first reported Sessions' peacemaking trip to Caracas in 2018. The earlier email regarding Exxon and his connection to Rivera was not known at the time. Sessions' role in the ultimately futile back channeling, more extensive than previously believed, is now part of prosecutors' examination of Rivera's paid consulting and how the money he received from Venezuela at least $15 million of the promised $50 million was spent, the two people said. While there is no indication Sessions benefited from Riveras consulting contract, the two men's efforts overlapped, with the same interlocutors, and at times seemed aligned. A far cry from today's maximum pressure campaign by the U.S. to remove Maduro, there was a brief window following Trump's 2016 election when the socialist leader was desperately looking to court American investment and repair relations with Washington. Trump's perceived softness on Russia Venezuelas top ally spurred Caracas to quickly mount an influence campaign that included funneling through Citgo, PDVSAs Houston-based subsidiary, $500,000 to Trumps inaugural committee topping contributions by corporate giants Verizon, Pepsi and Wal-Mart. Sessions was considered a key target of Venezuelas charm offensive because of his close ties to Tillerson both men have held leadership positions in the Boy Scouts of America and ties to the U.S. oil industry. Exxon is among the firms headquartered in his former Dallas district. The five-sentence message sent to Sessions' personal email address, which starts with the word eagle," is short on specifics. But it makes reference to earlier correspondence, also seen by the AP, in which Exxon General Counsel and Vice President Randall Ebner mentioned a willingness to discuss new business after the settlement around the same time of a long-running arbitration stemming from Venezuela's takeover of an Exxon-run oil field in 2007. To woo the company back at a time when oil production was collapsing, Maduro was ready to offer Exxon a concession in the Hugo Chavez Oil Belt, which sits atop the worlds largest crude reserves, the two people said. We thank you for your commitment to making this meeting happen," concludes the email to Sessions. Exxon declined to comment. But by the time the ink dried on a $259 million payment schedule signed between Exxon and PDVSA on July 31, 2017, relations between the two countries had become more hostile. The Trump administration started rolling out the first round of sanctions in response to Maduro's plans to rewrite the constitution and undermine the opposition-controlled congress. Sessions is looking to return to Congress if he can win a mid-July runoff in a heavily Republican district near his native Waco different from the seat he held for 11 terms until he was ousted in 2018. He declined to comment in response to detailed questions. The U.S. Department of State would be your best resource for any information regarding contacts made with Venezuela, a spokesman said. The State Department declined to comment. But U.S. officials all along have been suspicious of Sessions' activities in Venezuela. Sessions had no obvious links to the country besides writing a letter in 2004 to the countrys banking regulators in support of financier Allen Stanford, a former Sessions donor who in 2012 was convicted in Texas and sentenced to 110 years in prison for running a $7 billion-plus Ponzi scheme. The State Department played no role in organizing the two-day private trip to Caracas, two U.S. officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Sessions had asked U.S. diplomats not to accompany him to the presidential palace, the officials said, although U.S. Embassy staff did see the congressman afterward at a small reception held for him at the Caracas mansion of government-connected businessman Raul Gorrin. In 2018, Sessions then-spokeswoman Caroline Booth told the AP that her boss had spent the past year working to resolve issues" in Venezuela at the request of a friend she didnt identify. She said Sessions paid for all of his travel. Gorrin at the time was trying to broker a soft exit for Maduro while paying Ballard Partners Trumps former Florida lobbyist to explore expansion opportunities in the U.S. for his TV network Globovision. Along the way, he traveled to Washington to discuss Venezuela's future with U.S. lawmakers and managed to get his photo taken shaking hands with Vice President Mike Pence in Florida. Gorrin together with now-Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, a PDVSA board member, organized Sessions' visit to Caracas and steered the lobbying contract toward Rivera's Interamerican Consulting firm, according to the two people familiar with the Maduro outreach. The goal of the contract was to improve PDVSAs long-term reputation and standing among targeted stakeholders in the U.S., according to a copy seen by the AP. Rivera wasnt an obvious choice to lead the effort, having made a name for himself among anti-Maduro exiles in Florida mimicking the anti-communist politics of his friend and one-time roommate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The three-month, $50 million contract far exceeded the $70,000 per month Citgo had long paid two established lobbyists, Cornerstone Government Affairs and Vantage Knight, for regulatory work. Rivera's ties to the Maduro government and Gorrin have been the target of a criminal investigation for over a year, according to a U.S. law enforcement official on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe. He was also sued recently in New York federal court by Citgos new board appointed by Juan Guaido, the head of Congress recognized by the U.S. as Venezuelas rightful leader. The lawsuit alleges he failed to describe any work performed while under contract, preparing just two of seven promised progress reports. Rivera has said that some of the money he received was destined for Venezuela's opposition, but so far has offered no evidence or explanation to back that claim. Meanwhile, Gorrins efforts came to nothing: a few months after introducing Sessions to Maduro, he was indicted in Miami on federal money-laundering charges, including allegations that he helped embezzle $200 million from PDVSA on behalf of the presidents stepsons. Gorrin and Rivera did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Sessions and Rivera have a history of working together. As chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Sessions helped elect Rivera to Congress in 2010 despite domestic abuse allegations that almost derailed his campaign. In 2012, he hosted a Washington fundraising reception for the freshman congressman. Later, Riveras political career unraveled amid several election-related controversies, including orchestrating the stealth funding of an unknown Democratic candidate to take on his main rival in a South Florida congressional race and a state investigation into whether he hid a $1 million contract with a gambling company. He has never been charged with a crime. Sessions, the son of recently deceased former FBI Director William Sessions, has had his brushes with scandal as well. Last year, he was entangled in the impeachment investigation centered on Trumps dealings with Ukraine for writing a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seeking Ambassador Marie Yovanovitchs dismissal after meeting with two associates of Giuliani with ties to the former Soviet republic. ___ Follow AP reporter Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APjoshgoodman __ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org ___ Appropriating my favorite white gaze of all. By Michael R. Jackson, 39, a New York-based playwright When I think about the now popular idea of confronting the white gaze in theater, I think about the fact that I was born into a black family in a predominantly black city (Detroit), where I attended a black church and predominantly black schools taught by predominantly black teachers alongside predominantly black students. The first boys I kissed were black. The first boys I did anything more than kissing with were black. When my father would sit me down to tell me about the evils of the white man, I would roll my eyes because, at the time, the man I felt most spooked by was not some racist white man it was my father, who was black. I grew up in such a black context that eventually I had to rebel against it. So I moved to New York City at 18 to study playwriting. In my college plays at New York University, as in most of the short stories and poems I had written in high school, the central characters were black. I remember taking a master class with the playwright Kenneth Lonergan, who brought in two white actors to read scenes from all of our plays aloud. Because this was a pre-woke world, I had to listen to them read my very black, Southern-born characters dialogue in a This Is Our Youth dialect. As cringe-worthy as that experience was, it was a seminal moment: the first time I recognized white consciousness as the default in theater. But while I recognized that, I was not intimidated by it, because my default consciousness had always been black. I saw the world through artistically, culturally and sociopolitically black eyes. Because of how race is constructed, I understood how whiteness shaped the world my blackness lived in. But I did not cater to it. In my musical A Strange Loop (which last year completed a run at Playwrights Horizons in association with Page 73 Productions and recently won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in drama), the protagonist is a black queer man named Usher who is writing a musical about a black queer man who is writing a musical about a black queer man who is writing a musical about a black queer man ad infinitum. I constructed the play in this way in order to explore the interiority of a black man without having to sacrifice him to the trauma of slavery or police violence. I wanted to capture the everyday misery of being a self. For some, this structure is about confronting the white gaze. For me, its about what its been since I first began writing stories: being myself. If being myself is confronting the white gaze, then I suppose the only way I can explain my supposedly confrontational strategy is by appropriating my favorite white gaze of all: that of the character Joanne in George Furth and Stephen Sondheims 1970 musical Company, in which she says, Sometimes I catch him looking and looking. And I just look right back. Michael R. Jackson [June 22, 2020] KT SAT's Next Satellite to Usher in 5G Space Age KOREASAT 6A to Wield High Throughput, Variable Beam Coverage Forthcoming Shift to 5G Platform Service for the New Space Age Global Presence in Maritime, Aviation Communications SEOUL, South Korea, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KT Corp. (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT) ), South Korea's largest telecommunications company, announced its satellite-operating subsidiary, KT SAT, will launch its next satellite as soon as 2024 to transition the company into the leader of 5G platform-based service in the next space communications era. In a "vision declaration ceremony" commemorating its 50th anniversary, held at the Kumsan Satellite Service Center, KT SAT, South Korea's sole satellite communication operator, unveiled its plan to launch KOREASAT 6A in 2024 at the earliest. It will succeed KOREASAT 6, which will be decommissioned in 2025 after 15 years of service. KT said the next-generation satellite will be equipped with the latest satellite technologies, including "high throughput satellite" (HTS) and "software-defined satellite," to cope with rapid traffic spikes in the upcoming 5G era. "With the advent of the New Space Age, satellite communication through seamless network provisioning will become even more important," said Song Kyung min, president and CEO of KT SAT. "We at KT SAT will continue to work hard so that we will be able to lead the satellite industry in the next 50 years through reorientation to a satellite platform operator and active participation in the government's space projects." KT SAT is also preparing for aggressive marketing in the South East Asia and East Asia following the launch of KOREASAT 6A, with an aim at joining Asia's top five satellite operators. The company is currently providing broadcasting and communication services in such island nations as the Philippines and Indonesia. ? KOREASAT 6A to Handle Higher-Speed Transmissions HTS provides high-speed data transmission over 10 times faster than that of the classic fixed-satellite service (FSS) and the KOREASAT 6A will b capable of reconfiguring its beam coverage. Both technologies are aimed at optimized service to satisfy changing customer demands in the 5G era. The new satellite may also be loaded with the Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS), a Korean regional version of the Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS). SBAS improves the accuracy and reliability of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) information by correcting signal measurement errors and providing information about the accuracy, continuity and availability of its signals. KT SAT plans to determine the payload and applicable technologies for KOREASAT 6A within this year and begin construction of the new satellite in 2021. The new satellite will orbit Earth at 116 degrees east, the same longitude as KOREASAT 6. South Korea's satellite industry began with the establishment of the Kumsan Satellite Service Center in 1970, and has since achieved remarkable progress in information and communication services, most notably in international telephone and satellite broadcasting. Looking forward to the next half-century, KT SAT is preparing to be the private-sector leader in the New Space Age. ? Participant in GPS Project KT SAT is actively participating in the KASS project, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The project is aimed at building Korea's own system to improve the accuracy of GNSS information. It will contribute significantly to the safety of aircraft landings and takeoffs, among other benefits, by drastically reducing GPS errors from the current 30 meters to around one meter. KASS requires two geostationary satellites and a ground station. A geostationary satellite is being produced under KT SAT's responsibility. It is scheduled to be launched in the latter half of 2021 and begin trial services in 2022. KT SAT also plans to actively participate in the state-led "integrated communication satellite" project to provide the Korea Positioning System (KPS) and other public communication networks, ultimately contributing to the development of the Republic of Korea's space industry. ? Transition to Satellite-Based Platform Operator KT SAT's vision for its second half-century also includes taking a leap to become a satellite-based platform operator. Its operations so far have centered on satellite communication supplementing terrestrial relay services. The company plans to expand its satellite networks to comprise communications in oceans and airspaces, which remain blind spots in telecommunication. Based on its 70 percent share in South Korea's merchant ship market, KT SAT plans to release "Integrated Ocean Platform" during the first half of 2021. The company's market domination is a result of its average 20 percent annual growth in the maritime very small aperture terminal (MVSAT) market. It has provided a variety of solutions, including ship internet, email, closed-circuit TV and ship operations management, all of which will be integrated into a single platform for speedy services desired by clients. ? Satellite-5G for Ultra-Connectivity of Core Networks KT SAT built a satellite test bed at the Kumsan Satellite Service Center on June 15, in collaboration with the KT Institute of Convergence Technology, as part of research in satellite-5G interface technology needed to provide high-quality communication environments without regional divisions. In November last year, they succeeded in developing interface technology between a commercial 5G network and a satellite communication network for the first time in the world. Beginning in the latter half of this year, KT SAT will undertake a South Korea-European Union joint research project, and will study interface between satellite and 5G terminals. Satellite-5G interface technology, when commercialized, will lead to the broadening of network bandwidth, which will enable uninterrupted 5G services via satellite to moving vehicles as well as regions where ground network construction is difficult. That will enable customers anywhere to have access to high-quality contents. For more information, please visit our English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng/ MEDIA CONTACTS For inquiries, please contact our Global Media Relations Team at [email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200622/2837205-1 SOURCE KT Corp. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Actress and former beauty queen Urvashi Rautela has landed in soup a few times for allegedly copy-pasting someone else's tweets on her social media. She says it's unfair to accuse anyone on behalf of what they write as there is a team behind a celebrity that looks after all the posting. Urvashi found herself in trouble when she tweeted about the Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite". The post reportedly had been copied from New York-based author JP Brammer. She was later accused of copying actor Sidharth Malhotra's tweet for Mumbai Police's efforts during the lockdown. Talking about it, Urvashi told IANS: "Nobody is in a position to comment on someone. It's unfair to accuse anyone on behalf of what they write. Everyone knows there is a team behind a celebrity that looks after all the social media postings." Urvashi was bullied on social media after the incident. She calls bullying wrong. "I don't blame anybody for that, because people can or may post anything they like and feel motivated. But what's wrong is that people are bullying someone or attempting to impeach others on behalf of that," he said. Urvashi says she encourages people to stay positive and keep others motivated. "I often share the quotes of Rumi, Anne Frank, and many other writers, because I feel that they are encouraging and that my friends and fans should know. The only thing I think in life is to stay positive and keep myself and others motivated, so to all the people trying to troll me or any other industry celebrities, please make sure you know the whole truth because with this thought you are demeaning yourself. Rather than spreading negativity let's just be positive and spread positivity. Be home, be safe," she said. Two cops have been suspended from the Brazilian military police force Monday after one of the agents was recorded choking a 19-year-old man. The teen told the police that he was alarmed at the sight of the cops while he was riding his motorcycle before he accidentally crashed into one of the police officers' bikes Sunday in Carapicuiba, Sao Paulo. One of the videos shows the police officer pressing his knee against the teenager's chest while he squeezed his neck as he was lying face up. He then passes out. After recovering, a second video showed the cop standing behind the teen while he used both of his arms to choke him around his neck. He then subsequently lost consciousness again. A cop (pictured left) placed a teenager in a choke hold after the 19-year-old reportedly tried to flee the scene of an accident after he crashed into a police officer's motorcycle Sunday in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two cops, including the cop who choked the teen, have been suspended A pedestrian records the moment a police officer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, kneeled on top of a teenager's chest before he squeezed his neck after the 19-year-old had crashed into a cop's department motorcycle on Sunday Brazilian news outlet G1 reported that the teenager was being questioned by the cops because he did not have a driver's license and tried to escape after the crash. The teen, whose name has been withheld, told TV Globo on Monday that after his motorcycle was lying on the ground, he tried to 'jump over' it before the police officer grabbed him. 'He thought I was going to run. [He] already stuck [his hands] to my neck. Then he immobilizes me, puts his knee on my chest and his hand on my neck. Then I passed out,' he said. 'I am not a criminal,' he added. 'As much as I am wrong for driving around without a license, I am not a criminal.' Separate footage also showed him being placed into a police car. An officer is heard telling him, 'This is the police my dude, you think this is a joke my dude.' The teen was taken to the local precinct and then to a nearby hospital. A police officer looks over an unconscious 19-year-old moments after he used a chokehold to restrain him. The cop and a second agent have been suspended pending an investigation A police officer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, restrains a teenager by kneeling on his chest and choking him Sunday The Secretariat of Public Security was investigating both cops to determine if they properly approached the teen of if they broke any policing guidelines. 'The police involved in the incident were heard last night and the unit's command opened an investigation to investigate all the circumstances of the case,' the Secretariat of Public Security said in a statement. 'As a precaution, the police were moved to administrative functions and the cited images are [being] analyzed by the institution.' The disturbing images evoked memories of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25. A pedestrian recorded officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while he was handcuffed and lying face down while another police officer looked at the camera. Other videos that followed soon after showed two other cops pinning Floyd down to the ground. All four cops were fired and charged in connection to Floyd's death. Chauvin was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter man and third-degree murder before the charges were upgraded to second -egree murder. Floyd's death sparked mass demonstrations in the United States and in cities across the world to denounce police brutality. Thomas Joyce, former CEO of high-speed trading firm Knight Capital Group, resigned from the police commission of his Connecticut hometown after a complaint to town leaders about Twitter posts that included calling for law-enforcement "profiling" of Muslims. Joyce, who now heads the life sciences firm Nanobeak Biotech, also had written in tweets, which were cited by the complaint, about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in sexist terms, and said that Hollywood figures who dressed in black during an awards event to protest sexual harassment were themselves "dressed like sex objects." "Gee, shocking ... A young Muslim man trying to kill people. Where have I heard that before?" Joyce wrote in a September 2016 tweet. "Time for profiling, not for PC." PC is an acronym for political correctness. In August 2018, four years after the Republican was first appointed to the Darien Police Commission, Joyce in a Twitter post seemed to criticize New York City police for arresting a man who had groped a woman. "A guy in NYC was arrested and made to take the perp walk for grabbing a woman's behind," he wrote in that tweet. "Arrested!! Simply ridiculous. The system has gone haywire," he wrote in the tweet, which like the others is now unavailable online because his Twitter account has been deactivated. Joyce's resignation from Darien's police oversight board last Thursday came weeks after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by Minneapolis police sparked protests nationwide and calls for reform of abusive law-enforcement practices. Joyce, who served as Merrill Lynch's head of U.S. equities earlier in his career, resigned as CEO of Knight Capital in July 2013, shortly after the firm was taken over by another high-speed trading company, Getco. That takeover came nearly a year after a software glitch caused Knight to buy unwanted positions in nearly 150 stocks, leading to a whopping $440 million loss. In the past year, Joyce became chairman and then interim CEO of Nanobeak Biotech, which specializes in mobile noninvasive disease detection. Nanobeak currently has a reimbursable Space Act Agreement for the development of gas sensor technology with the federal space agency NASA, according to government records. The value of that agreement was not immediately available, a NASA spokesman for the agency's Ames Research Center told CNBC. In April, Nanobeak announced that it had terminated its founder and then-chief science officer and board member Jeremy Barbera for undisclosed reasons. A press release about the move noted that Joyce, among his roles at the biotech firm, also is "currently on the Board of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending fund, a business development company managed by a Blackstone affiliate." Last week, a Darien resident named Reed Barthold wrote to the town Board of Selectmen about Joyce. Barthold earlier in June wrote an opinion article in a local newspaper titled, "Darien has the opportunity to right previous wrongs and take action," which criticized bigotry and racism. "Shrouded in wealth and opportunity, the town of Darien has continuously failed to fulfill basic ideals in human equality despite our resources," Barthold wrote in his op-ed. Barthold, in his letter to the Board of Selectmen that called for Joyce's resignation, wrote he and "many other residents" believed Joyce had made objectionable comments "repeatedly, and finds himself an actor in the degradation of this town and country's very ideals." "Calling for profiling, sexualizing & objectifying women, and defending assault are unbecoming of any public official, but especially a police commissioner whose function it is to set and enforce the proper standard for socially responsible police behavior, consistent with public safety," Barthold wrote in the letter, which he shared with CNBC. The letter included images of a number of Joyce's Twitter posts. Inside a low, brick-red building in Queens Village, a group of about 30 cooks has made and served more than 145,000 free meals in just 10 weeks. They arrive at 4 a.m. three days a week to methodically assemble vast quantities of basmati rice, dal, beans and vibrantly flavoured sabzis for New York City hospital workers, people in poverty and anyone else in search of a hot meal. This isnt a soup kitchen or a food bank. Its a gurdwara, the place of worship for Sikhs, members of the fifth-largest organized religion in the world, with about 25 million adherents. Providing for people in need is built into their faith. An essential part of Sikhism is langar, the practice of preparing and serving a free meal to promote the Sikh tenet of seva, or selfless service. Anyone, Sikh or not, can visit a gurdwara and partake in langar, with the biggest ones like the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India serving more than 100,000 people every day. Since the coronavirus pandemic has halted religious gatherings in most of the U.S., including langar, gurdwaras like the Sikh Center of New York, in Queens Village, are mobilizing their large-scale cooking resources to meet the skyrocketing need for food aid outside their places of worship. Some are feeding the protesters marching in outrage over the killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans by the police. Last week, a dozen or so volunteers from the Queens centre served 500 portions of matar paneer, rice and rajma, a creamy, comforting dish of red beans stewed with tomatoes, and 1,000 bottles of water and cans of pop to demonstrators in Sunnyside. They also offered dessert: kheer, a sweetened rice pudding. Where we see peaceful protest, we are going, said Himmat Singh, a co-ordinator at the World Sikh Parliament, an advocacy group providing volunteers for the Queens Village efforts. We are looking for justice. We support this. Since the pandemic began, soup kitchens have had difficulty keeping up with demand. Shuttered schools and even fine-dining restaurants are using their kitchens to prepare and serve hot meals. But few other places are as well positioned to handle the sheer scale of assistance required right now as the gurdwaras. Most have large, well-equipped kitchens, a steady stream of volunteers and no shortage of ingredients, thanks to regular donations from community members. During the last annual Sikh Day Parade in New York, in April 2019, the Queens Village kitchen which has a walk-in cooler, multiple freezers, 50-litre stockpots and a huge grill that can cook dozens of rotis at once produced 15,000 meals in a single day. The Sikhs biggest challenge isnt keeping up with demand. Its letting people know that theyre here without making a big show of it or proselytizing, which is forbidden. Founded in the 15th century in Punjab, India, by the spiritual leader Guru Nanak, Sikhism has an estimated 500,000 followers in the United States and 280 gurdwaras, according to the Sikh Coalition, a civil-rights organization in New York City. One of the most visibly distinctive features of the Sikh practice is the turban a symbol of the religions belief in equality though not everyone chooses to wear one. Sikhs in America have often been prey to bigotry, hate crimes and Islamophobia, particularly since Sept. 11. A few volunteers said in interviews that before going out to distribute meals, they worried that they might hear ignorant comments. But Santokh Dillon, the president of the Guru Nanak Mission Society of Atlanta, said the people he serves are often more puzzled than prejudiced. Most have never even heard of Sikhism, he said. When some find out that the meals are free, They look at us and say, You are kidding, right? At least 80 gurdwaras in the United States are now providing food assistance. For many, the transition has been quick and seamless. This is not just because the infrastructure is already there, said Satjeet Kaur, the executive director of the Sikh Coalition. The call to action and the responsibility for helping others is deeply entrenched in the Sikh way of life. Sikhs are expected to donate at least 10 per cent of their time or income toward community service. It took the Gurdwara Sahib of Fremont, Calif., just a few days after suspending religious services in March to set up a meal and grocery delivery program, and a drive-through meal pickup system outside the gurdwara. Cooks wear gloves and masks, and the kitchen is big enough for workers to stand more than two metres from one another. As at most gurdwaras, the menu changes regularly, but is typically Indian and always vegetarian. (Meat is not permitted in gurdwaras.) While these Sikh volunteers, known as sevadars, are experts in mass-meal preparation, they arent as accustomed to spreading the word. The Fremont kitchen has produced 15,000 to 20,000 meals a day on holidays like New Years Eve, said Dr. Pritpal Singh, a member of the gurdwara. But now, the gurdwara is serving just 100 to 150 people each day. Dr. Singh said he hoped that more people in need would come pick up food. We could do hundreds of thousands of meals if given the task, he said. But with the demonstrations unfolding around the country, Sikhs arent waiting for people to come to them any longer. On Tuesday, volunteers from the Gurdwara Sahib attended a protest in Fremont and handed out several hundred bottles of water as a show of solidarity. On a recent Friday, Gurjiv Kaur and Kiren Singh asked the volunteers at their gurdwara, the Khalsa Care Foundation, in the Pacoima neighbourhood of Los Angeles, to prepare meals in the community kitchen that they could take to the protest. The next morning, they and others picked up about 700 containers of pasta with a garlic- and onion-laden tomato sauce and 500 bottles of water from the gurdwara, and set up a tent in Pan Pacific Park. Soon, protesters started arriving at the tent with other donations, like medical supplies, snacks and hand sanitizer. It is our duty to stand up with others to fight for justice, said Kaur, a graduating senior at the University of California, Irvine. Langar at its core is a revolution: against inequality and the caste system, the antiquated hereditary class structure in South Asia, which Sikhism has always rejected. In Norwich, Conn., volunteers from five gurdwaras handed out a few hundred bottles of water to protesters last Tuesday and, on Friday, distributed as many containers of rajma, or kidney beans, and rice on a sidewalk a block from city hall. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, a volunteer and a member of the Norwich Board of Education, noted that historically, many Sikhs in India have been killed by the police while fighting for their civil rights. At many gurdwaras in the United States, most of those who show up for langar meals are Sikhs. Now that they are catering to a broader population, menus have changed to suit different tastes. In the Seattle area, volunteers at the Gurudwara Sacha Marag Sahib are making pasta and tacos in addition to rice and dal. At the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Espanola, N.M., meals have included enchiladas and burritos. Still, Harimandir Khalsa, a volunteer, said the community kitchen is operating at less than 10 per cent of its capacity. I think it is about convenience, Khalsa said, as the gurdwara isnt centrally located. If we had a food truck parked in front of Walmart that said, Free food, we could get more takers. But for people to get in their cars and drive over to this place, people arent that desperate yet. Location is also an issue for the Guru Ramdas Gurdwara Sahib in Vancouver, Wash., as the neighbourhood doesnt have much foot traffic, said Mohan Grewal, the gurdwara secretary. So every other Sunday, volunteers pack up 300 to 400 meals made in the gurdwara and drive them to the Living Hope Church, a Christian congregation nine kilometres away, in a more urban part of the city. One of the biggest challenges for gurdwaras is that many hospitals, shelters and other charitable organizations theyd like to help dont take cooked food because of hygienic concerns, or accept it only if it meets certain health codes. Many Sikhs have started collecting and distributing pantry items in addition to making meals. Still, some gurdwaras are bustling. In Riverside, Calif., a hub for the Sikh population, volunteers from the United Sikh Mission, an American non-profit aid group, and the Khalsa School Riverside, a childrens program, serve 3,000 to 5,000 meals every day at the Riverside Gurdwara. People line up in the drive-through as early as 9:30 a.m., even though it doesnt open until 11:30. The process is highly systematized. The cooking team shows up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare meals based on previous days numbers, as well as requests from senior centres, hospitals and nursing homes; another team packs the meals into microwave-safe boxes; and the third distributes them at the drive-through and other locations. The gurdwara shares information about the free meals through regular posts on large Facebook groups for local residents. We didnt just sit there and say we are going to cook and wait for people to come, said Gurpreet Singh, a volunteer for the United Sikh Mission. Since the protests, Singh and others have been reaching out to Black organizations, like churches, offering to drop off meals or groceries. They expect to see an increase in people showing up for meals, as thousands have been attending protests in the area. Groups like United Sikhs, an international non-profit, are helping to get the word out. They have stepped up efforts to identify areas of need, connect gurdwaras with organizations seeking assistance, provide best practices for food preparation during the pandemic and mobilize Sikhs to help feed protesters. While the pandemic continues, a few gurdwaras arent using their kitchens. Tejkiran Singh, a spokesman for the Singh Sabha of Michigan, west of Detroit, said the gurdwara committee decided it was too risky to start a meal distribution service, especially since Michigan has become a hot spot for the coronavirus. When the Sikh Society of Central Florida, in Oviedo, reopens on June 14, services will be limited to fewer people and food will be handed out in to-go containers as they leave. But Amit Pal Singh and Charanjit Singh, the chairman and the treasurer of the Sikh Society of Central Florida, also want to continue the drive-through and delivery services they developed during the pandemic. The concept of langar is to serve the needy, Pal Singh said. Before the pandemic, he said, most people participating in langar were local Sikhs coming more for social and religious reasons than out of need. The drive-through and deliveries will allow them to put meals into the hands of people who struggle to afford to eat. That will mean a lot of extra food for volunteers to prepare, in a city where the Sikh population is still small. But none of that seemed to worry Pal Singh. We would love to be in that situation, he said, his optimism vibrating through the phone. We will handle it. Read more about: She's a top lingerie model and Victoria's Secret Angel. And on Monday, Sara Sampaio shared new images of herself in a bikini enjoying a pool day with pals. The Portuguese beauty, 28, showed plenty of skin in a snap shared to her Instagram Story in which she posed with slicked back wet hair in the tiny two-piece. Flashed skin: Victoria's Secret Angel Sara Sampaio posed for a pool selfie wearing a tiny yellow bikini and with slicked back wet hair and posted it to Instagram Story on Monday Sampaio sported a pair of large black-framed sunglasses. She accessorized with a couple of fine gold pendant necklaces. In another snap she shared, she posed with her four female friends posing behind her as they stand in the swimming pool. Fun in the sun: In another snap, the Portuguese beauty, who sported a pair of large black-framed sunglasses, posed with four female friends as they stood in the swimming pool Meanwhile, Sampaio joined with her fellow VS Angels Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, and Jasmine Tookes to launch a contest in which one lucky fan would get to join them as a supermodel for a day. Sharing the information via their social media, they explained that the winner would be treated to a workout at Dogpound gym, a photoshoot and a $5,000 shopping spree followed by dinner and karaoke. Money raised by the contest organized through the All In Challenge Foundation website are set to benefit charities assisting people in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Top model: Sampaio, 28, started modeling at 16 and made her debut as a VS Angel in the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She's pictured in September 2019 Fireworks safety guidelines Sioux City Fire Rescue always recommends that people leave the fireworks to the professionals, but those who choose to shoot off fireworks should follow the following safety guidelines: Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. Always make sure the area is safe for fireworks. Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a designated shooter. Follow label instructions and use common sense. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers. Always have a garden hose nearby. Only light one firework at a time and move back quickly. Never attempt to re-light a firework. Dispose of spent fireworks in a bucket of water. Never put them in your garbage. Never experiment with homemade fireworks. Keep pets inside and comfortable. The Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly (ONMA) Youth Parliament under the National Youth Authority has held its 2 nd Quarter Sitting for the year at the Municipal Conference Hall over the weekend. The agenda for the sitting was Effect of the COVID-19 on the Municipality and the Upcoming Voters Registration Exercise, which was debated on by both the Majority and Minority side. As part of the Youth Parliaments contribution in bringing development and progress to the Municipality, the outcome of the sitting had 10 points drafted and would be finalised later for submission to the Municipal Assembly. This would be done through the National Youth Authority Okaikwei North Secretariat to the Municipal Assembly. Before and during the sitting, Members observed the COVID-19 laid down protocol with the use of face masks, hand Sanitizers and other logistics provided by the National Youth Authority Okaikwei North Secretariat. The Acting Director of the National Youth Authority Okaikwei North Secretariat, Diana Dorkpoh who observe proceedings said she was happy with the contributions from both the Majority and Minority. I am really impressed by the views of both caucuses. The topic for discussion really fits into the global issues that is currently ongoing, she noted. On Coronavirus, she called on the youth in the Municipality to adhere strictly to the laid down protocols that President Akufo Addo, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) among others always talk about in all public engagements. I personally agree to the fact that Electoral Commission must enforce the public on the precautionary measures during the registration exercise and the whole upcoming General Elections at large, she added. The Speaker of ONMA Youth Parliament, JOSHUA NARTEY OLOGO on his part said the youth in the area should see the COVID-19 protocol as measures to protect themselves and not to be told before they observe them. Update: The post at 3.14pm stated some caravan parks based on Victoria's Great Ocean Road had made the decision to ban guests from six Melbourne local government areas, where an increase in coronavirus cases have been recorded in recent days. That ban is no longer in effect, and the Anglesea Family Caravan Park, Torquay Foreshore Park and Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park will allow visitors from these six areas. A statement on their website reads: "The restrictions we announced yesterday for our caravan park guests living in hotspot areas has now been updated." "We made the decision based on what we thought was best for our staff, guests and local communities." "We have now updated our decision based on advice from the Chief Health Officer and will welcome all guests, including our TMPs back into our parks." "But please remember, if you feel unwell you should stay at home. If you have symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, you should get tested. Its up to all of us to make this work." Six local government areas in Melbourne (Brimbank, Hume, Moreland, Darebin, Casey and Cardinia) were identified by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee as being coronavirus hotspots earlier this week, and the national health body advised people to avoid travelling to and from these areas. However, earlier today, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton's advice was less severe. He said residents in these areas could still travel outside of their municipality for a holiday if they were free of symptoms (see 11.13am post). (Thanks to reader smith12345678, who pointed out in the comments that their website had been updated) Four men are expected to be charged with murder over the mysterious daylight bashing of Vergel Velasquez in a western Sydney apartment block the day before New Year's Eve. Homicide squad detectives arrested four men, aged 41, 42, 50 and 49, on Tuesday in Moree in the state's north-west - 620 kilometres from the Girraween complex where Mr Velasquez was left in the unit's stairwell with head injuries. Vergel Velasquez. It is expected they will be charged with murder to face court on Wednesday, after Mr Velasquez died in Westmead Hospital on New Year's Eve 2019. Despite the arrests, police remain unsure as to the motive for the beating of the 42-year-old. 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. Security forces have busted an active terrorist hideout and recovered warlike stores in an area on the outskirts of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. The Chinar Corps of the army tweeted that the joint operation was launched in the morning in Harwan, which is about 19km from Srinagar city. Op Harwan (#Srinagar). Joint Operation launched today early morning on own sources inputs corroborated by @JmuKmrPolice, it said. An active hideout busted & warlike stores - UBGL with grenades, GPS, AK magazine & administrative stores recovered. Joint operation in progress, it added. This comes after three terrorists were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar after they refused to surrender on Sunday. This was the second such operation in the city in just over a month. Vijay Kumar, Kashmirs inspector general of police, said one of the terrorists was a local resident and involved in the killing of two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel near the citys Pandach Chowk during Ramzan May 20. He was identified as Shakoor Farooq Langoo of Bharthana near Srinagar. The second militant, Shahid Ahmad Bhat, was a resident of Semthan Bijbehara in South Kashmir, while the third person was yet to be identified. They were affiliated to the Hizbul Mujahideen, a banned local group, and the Kashmir unit of the Islamic State, according to the police, who said the terrorists were working jointly. Security forces have stepped up the offensive in the Kashmir Valley and killed more than 100 terrorists in operations since the beginning of this year. Several of these encounters have taken place in south Kashmir, which is considered the hotbed of militancy in the region. Not all of the officials have said why they are leaving, and some have cited personal reasons or planned retirements, but Ms. Freeman said she had heard many accounts of harassment. Theres a big red target on their backs, Ms. Freeman said. Theyre becoming villainized for their guidance. In normal times, theyre very trusted members of their community. Some critics of the public health directors have said that they believe that allowing businesses to operate is worth the risk of spreading the coronavirus, and that health directors are too cautious about reopenings. Others have cited conspiracy theories that claim that the coronavirus is a hoax; that the development of a vaccine is part of a massive effort to track citizens and monitor their movements; and that wearing a mask or cloth face covering is a practice that impedes personal freedom. In Washington State, where rural counties are struggling with new outbreaks and trying to warn residents to take basic precautions to stem the spread of the virus, pleas from local health officials have often been answered with hostility and threats. In Yakima County, which has more than six times as many cases per capita as the county that includes Seattle, hospitals have reached capacity and patients were being taken elsewhere for medical care. Gov. Jay Inslee warned over the weekend that we are frankly at the breaking point, and has said he would require Yakima residents to wear face coverings in an effort to slow the viruss spread. Ive been called a Nazi numerous times, said Andre Fresco, the executive director of the Yakima Health District. Ive been told not to show up at certain businesses. Ive been called a Communist and Gestapo. Ive been cursed at and generally treated in a very unprofessional way. Its very difficult. In California, angry protesters have tracked down addresses of public health officers and gathered outside their homes, chanting and holding signs. Last week, a group called the Freedom Angels did just that in Contra Costa County, Calif., filming themselves and posting the videos on Facebook. After recording seven additional cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of June according to Harris County Public Health bringing the number of confirmed cases in the city to 17 Jersey Village announced that the city would follow an ordinance from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Governor Abbott flips on masks: Gov. Abbott calls coronavirus surge unacceptable, urges Texans to wear masks in public In accordance with the June 19, 2020 order from the County Judge the City of Jersey Village is implementing this Health and Safety Policy for all staff and visitors to all city facilities, The City of Jersey Village announced on their COVID-19 response page. This policy is very similar to what has been required or encouraged by staff and visitors since city facilities have reopened. In May, the City of Jersey Village extended a previous declaration of a state of local disaster to July 21. Jersey Village implemented their own Health and Safety policy for businesses for the time being in order to promote safety precautions. The policy includes the requirement of face coverings, which must cover the nose and mouth, social distancing between each other in public spaces and discourages all visitors or city staff who feel sick from entering buildings. Jersey Village mayor brewing up his own craft beer: Jersey Village mayor Andrew Mitcham set to open government-themed brewpub Senate Avenue Brewing Company next month The policy also exempts children under 10 from requiring masks, and makes exceptions for exercising, health risks, and eating for all mask wearing individuals. Governor Greg Abbott recently urged Texans to wear masks when outdoors in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after several record high days for diagnoses. Previously, Abbott feuded with Judge Hidalgo over requiring masks in April. The way that hospitalizations are spiking, the way that daily new cases are spiking, surely the public can understand that if those spikes continue, additional measures are going to be necessary to make sure that we maintain the health and safety of the people in the state of Texas, Abbott said. Harris County businesses must now require all customers to wear masks through June 30 as the number of patients in hospitals skyrocket, with even Texas Childrens Hospital having to take on adult patients. Hidalgo plans an extension for the mask rule. Currently, Clark Henry Park and Clark Henry Pool are open in Jersey Village with limited capacity. For more information, visit https://www.jerseyvillagetx.com/page/article/144. chevall.pryce@chron.com HOUSTON - (June 23, 2020) - The Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences has awarded Rice University experimental physicist Ming Yi a five-year grant to explore the details of magnetism in two-dimensional materials. She is one of 76 Early Career awardees, 50 of them from American universities and the rest at national laboratories. The grant to Yi for $750,000 follows a major Moore Foundation grant she received earlier this year. Yi's lab employs a technique called angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to study the behavior of electrons at the nanoscale. In some materials, the electrons interact strongly with each other, leading to exotic quantum phenomena. "ARPES directly maps the distribution of electrons in solid crystalline materials, from which we can learn about the emergent collective behaviors of electrons that lead to exotic properties of the materials," she said. With the new grant, she and her colleagues seek to learn the origin of magnetism in bulk materials that are exfoliated for use as low-dimensional materials, how the key ingredients for magnetism evolve as materials go from 3D to 2D and how the 2D magnetic properties can be perturbed and tuned. "One of the ultimate goals for the quantum materials community is to be able to design materials on demand, which is to say, 'I want this kind of property, can you make a material that does that?'" Yi said. "In order to do so, we need to have an accurate theoretical model for real materials and an understanding of the key parameters to input that will give the material properties we want. For 2D magnetic materials and other correlated materials, that process is not yet well-understood. "These materials are also very tunable, which means when people perturb them by applying a field or strain, their properties are predicted to change a lot," she said. "The question is why." Yi said the key to 2D tuning lies in understanding the fundamental physics of what occurs as exfoliated materials go from bulk 3D to 2D, as happened when scientists used adhesive tape to pull graphene from a lump of graphite. Her approach is experimental rather than theoretical. "I propose to measure the materials' electronic structures with ARPES to study how they change from 3D to 2D, and to see how that relates to their magnetic, electric and optical properties," said Yi, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy. To be eligible for the Early Career award, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution or a full-time employee at a Department of Energy national laboratory who received a Ph.D. within the past 10 years. "The Department of Energy is proud to support funding that will sustain America's scientific workforce, and create opportunities for our researchers to remain competitive on the world stage," said Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. "By bolstering our commitment to the scientific community, we invest into our nation's next generation of innovators." ### This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/06/23/rice-professor-attracts-grant-to-study-magnetism/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Yi Research Group: https://yilab.rice.edu/people/ Department of Physics and Astronomy: https://physics.rice.edu Wiess School of Natural Sciences: https://naturalsciences.rice.edu Image for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/06/0622_YI-1-WEB.jpg CAPTION: Ming Yi. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. 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... For Immediate Release Chicago, IL June 23, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include United Natural Foods Inc. UNFI, Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc LL, Molina Healthcare Inc MOH, Lowes Companies Inc. LOW and OneWater Marine Inc. ONEW. Here are highlights from Mondays Analyst Blog: Market Recovery to Be Like "Rolling W's"? Value Stocks to Buy After climbing more than 40% from the March lows, the S&P 500 remained range bound in the past two weeks, not gaining much from early June. Still-high unemployment benefit claims amid the COVID-19 crisis, rising coronavirus cases with easing lockdowns and the Feds cautious outlook for the economy dampened investors sentiments. The market is often reacting to negative economic headlines. The United States reported more than 30,000 new coronavirus cases on Jun 19, the highest number of daily infections recorded since May 1, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University. The data has instigated fears of a second wave of coronavirus. Cases are soaring in states in the South and West and Midwest. Arizona, Florida, California, Nevada and South Carolina reported record-high, single-day increases on Jun 19. The Fed now expects the U.S. unemployment rate to hit 9.3% this year, dropping to 6.5% in 2021 and declining further to 5.5% in 2022. The unemployment rate in May dropped to 13.3% from 14.7% in April. Before the pandemic, the U.S. unemployment rate was hovering near the 50-year lows of around 3.6%. The Fed sees American GDP falling by 6.5% in 2020 before rising by 5.0% in 2021 and 3.5% in 2022. The projections and Fed comments hint that the coronavirus-led economic crisis is far from over. Rolling Ws Recovery in the Cards? Story continues There is a disconnect between Main Street and Wall Street, per analysts. Although the stock market was suggesting a V-shaped recovery, the more likely scenario is rolling Ws, per Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, as quoted on CNBC. A similar market pattern was noticed during the financial crisis, pointed out by Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research. After the stocks rallied nearly 40% from the 2009 bottom, the market moved sideways for about seven weeks so that fundamentals could match the market value. Why You Should Focus on Value Stocks With rising uncertainty and a global recessionary environment, investors may consider parking their money in value stocks. Numerous academic studies have shown that value stocks delivered higher returns with lower volatility compared with growth stocks, over the long term, in almost all the markets studied. Therefore, they should be part of any core portfolio. CFRAs Sam Stovall recently said the market has been highly overbought. Stovall said stocks could decline 5% to 10% from the Jun 8 peak. Having said this, we would like to note that we do not expect any severe crash in the market thanks to the unprecedented Fed and government stimulus. So, investors may consider investing in these value stocks to fight the impending volatility in Wall Street. 5 Value Stocks to Buy Below we highlight a few stocks that have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), a Value Score of A and one-week price change is higher than 10%. United Natural Foods Inc. United Natural Foods is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products in the U.S. and Canada. The Zacks Rank #1 stock comes from a favorable Zacks industry (placed at the top 22% of total 250+ industries in the Zacks universe). Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc The Zacks Rank #2 company operates in its niche market in hardwood flooring. It hails from a favorable Zacks industry (top 12%). Molina Healthcare Inc The Zacks Rank #2 company is a multi-state managed care organization participating exclusively in government-sponsored healthcare programs such as the Medicaid program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, catering to low-income persons. Lowes Companies Inc. The Zacks Rank #2 companyis one of the worlds leading home improvement retailer, offering services to homeowners, renters and commercial business customers. It comes from a favorable Zacks industry (top 12%). OneWater Marine Inc. The Zacks Rank #2 company isa premium recreational boat retailer principally in the United States. It hails from a favorable Zacks industry (top 9%). Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Join us on Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com 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 Lowes Companies, Inc. (LOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc (LL) : Free Stock Analysis Report OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research TORONTO, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (TSXV: FURA, OTC: FUGMF and FRA: BJ43) is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the Companys previously announced acquisition (the Acquisition) of interests in two ruby licences/concessions in Mozambique as follows: (i) a 70% interest in ruby mining licence 5030L through the acquisition of 70% of the issued and outstanding shares of Rubies Resources SA, and (ii) an 80% interest in ruby mining concession 8921C through the acquisition of 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of Ibra Moz SA (each a Licence, and together the Licences). Fura also acquired the Vendors right to earn a 65% interest in mining concession 8955C under a joint venture agreement (together with the Licences, the New Energy Assets). Please see the Companys press releases dated November 29, 2018 and February 11, 2020 for further details. Pursuant to the merger of ruby assets agreement dated July 14, 2018, as revised and restated on February 7, 2020 (the MRAA), in consideration for the purchase of the New Energy Assets, Fura made a total cash payment of A$1,400,000 (C$1.27 million) to New Energy Minerals Ltd (the Vendor) and paid US$28,000 (C$39,000) on behalf of the Vendor to the Mozambique government for the capital gains taxes levied in connection with the sale of the New Energy Assets. The Acquisition was an arms length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Fura did not pay any finders fees in connection with the Acquisition. For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact: Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760 dev.shetty@furagems.com Rupak Sen Vice President Marketing and Sales Tel: +1+(778)386-1313 rupak.sen@furagems.com Public Relations Tavistock (UK) Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150 fura@tavistock.co.uk About Fura Gems Inc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol FURA. Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interests in two mining permits (EPM 25973 and EPM 25978) and three mining licences (ML 70419, ML 70447 and ML 70451), and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interests in ruby licence 5572L and 7414L and ruby concession 8955C. Regulatory Statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the New Energy Assets, the Companys ability to develop and explore the Licence areas, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved, and the negative forms of such words and phrases. 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: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical, health and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration, development and production activities; access to sufficient financing to continue the development of its assets; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations, uncertainties with respect to the Companys assets; legacy environmental risks, title risks 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. 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. The materials were first uncovered in August after Yungs wife filed an order of protection against him and she began searching their Colorado Springs home for documents related to their separation, according to the complaint. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 15:16 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f86cc 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Papua,Puncak-Jaya-Mulia,Jayawijaya,remote-areas,coronavirus Free Puncak Jaya regency in the remote Pegunungan Tengah area of Papua reported its first case of COVID-19 on Monday. Papua COVID-19 task force spokesperson Silwanus Sumule said the patient exhibited light to moderate symptoms and was being treated at the Mulia General Regional Hospital. "He's in stable condition and there is no indication that he needs to be transferred to another hospital," he said on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com. With the discovery of the case, 16 of Papua's 29 regencies and municipalities now have confirmed COVID-19 cases. Siliwanus said he had no idea where the patient contracted the disease as no flights had been permitted to the regency since March. "We have urged health workers in Mulia city to carry out contact tracing, tests and treatment to find out how the disease spread to Puncak Jaya," he said. Read also: Limited health facilities leave Papua facing tough COVID-19 fight According to 2018 Statistics Indonesia data, Puncak Jaya has a population of 123,591 people and a population density of 50.52 people per square kilometer. The announcement of the case came only two days after Yalimo, another regency in Pegunungan Tengah, recorded its first two cases of COVID-19. As of Tuesday, four of the eight regencies in the Pegunungan Tengah mountain range have recorded COVID-19 cases Jayawijaya and Puncak Jaya with one case each and Central Mamberamo and Yalimo with two cases each. According to the government count, Papua had confirmed 1,498 COVID-19 cases with 16 fatalities and 709 recoveries as of Monday. (nal) Bob Owen Doctors in Alice are urging residents of the Jim Wells County city not to travel to San Antonio because of the local surge in COVID-19 cases. The Alice Pediatric Clinic, a 45-year-old practice with handful of doctors in the city about two hours south of San Antonio, issued a travel advisory last Saturday. At least 15 residents of an indigenous village in southern Mexico were massacred, authorities said Monday, in one of the most brutal attacks to shake the countryside in recent years. State prosecutors in the state of Oaxaca said the bodies of 13 men and two women were identified as victims of the attacks over Sunday night and Monday morning in the municipality of San Mateo del Mar, east of the Pacific port of Salina Cruz. The victims were beaten and several were burned alive, authorities said. The San Mateo del Mar municipal government issued a statement saying the attack was orchestrated by at least six armed people who are linked to a suspected local crime boss. An armed group of six individuals tortured and killed 15 residents from an indigenous village in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca during an attack Sunday night stretching into Monday morning. The victims were reportedly heading to a meeting when they were stopped at a road screening site for COVID-19 before they were intercepted by their attackers The victims were identified as 13 men and two women. According to the municipal government, the two women killed had been protesting against abuses by one of the suspected attackers, Jose Luis Chavez Salinas, who has described himself as a representative of Huazantlan del Rio The burnt wreckage of a truck lies on a street after assailants killed 15 inhabitants of an indigenous village that has been plagued by local disputes in Oaxaca, Mexico Oaxaca state prosecutors said investigations are underway into what sparked the violence in Huazantlan del Rio, a local village of Ikoots indigenous origin. Local media outlets reported the victims were traveling to a meeting in Huazantlan del Rio when they were stopped at a COVID-19 road screening site. They noticed that the road ahead was covered with burning tires before a group of masked attackers opened fire. The two women killed had been protesting against abuses by one of the suspected attackers, Jose Luis Chavez Salinas, who has described himself as a representative of Huazantlan del Rio, the municipal government said. No arrests had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon. The suspects were identified as Jose Luis Chavez Salinas, who has described himself as a representative of Huazantlan del Rio, and Camerino, Pedro, Laura, Marcelino and Ivan Members of the Mexico's National Guard patrol a road after assailants killed 15 inhabitants of an indigenous village in San Mateo del Mar, a municipality in the southern state of Oaxaca The attackers, identified as Camerino, Pedro, Laura, Marcelino and Ivan, tortured and burned alive a number of their victims, the municipal government said. Photos of some of the victims' partly burned corpses were published on social media. One of the dead men appeared to have been beaten with bricks. A state official said the photos were genuine. No arrests have yet been made, the official added. San Mateo del Mar lies on a coastal spit, and the area has suffered from territorial disputes and conflicts over rights of way for many years, according to the state official. The town witnessed several violent incidents between supporters of Mayor Bernardino Ponce and other community groups and auxiliary authorities who did not approve of Ponce's election night victory in October 2019. The area around the isthmus of Tehuantepec has also become known in recent years for land disputes over infrastructure projects. An Easton man admitted Monday that he sought more than $295,000 in fraudulent federal tax refunds, according to a news release. Stalyn Morales, 42, used identities he stole from other individuals to perpetrate the tax scam between January 2011 and June 2015, online court records say. The records say the returns were filed on behalf of Puerto Rican residents. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory but most of its residents arent required to file U.S. tax returns if their income is derived from Puerto Rico. The returns filed by Morales and the conspirator were filed using stolen names, social security numbers and birthdates of Puerto Rican residents, the records say. Morales pleaded guilty to submitting false tax claims and to aggravated identity theft before United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Investigators discovered the fraud through an analysis of the computers at Morales business, MDFA Auto in Allentown. Morales lives on North 13th Street in Easton. The IRS detected the fraud in time to deny most of the requests for refunds, according to the news release. As part of his plea, Morales will be ordered to pay restitution of the funds disbursed before the fraud was detected. Morales scheme victimized honest taxpayers in two ways: first, by stealing their identities and second, by trying to rip off the federal government, said United States Attorney William M. McSwain in a prepared statement. Now, he will face the consequences, as will anybody else who attempts to carry out a similar scheme. Morales faces a maximum possible sentence of seven years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine. Morales attorney, Glennis Clark, didnt return a message seeking comment. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. US President Donald Trump has decided to extend the suspension of immigration and expand it to cover H-1B, most sought-after visa programme among the Indians. The decision has been taken to ensure Americans have the first shot at the jobs in the wake of record job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The executive order signed by Trump will be in place at least until the end of the year. Critics of the measure say Trump is using the pandemic to enact his long standing goal to limit immigration into the United States. Republican Trump is running for re-election on November 3 and has made his tough immigration stance a central pitch to voters. A senior Department of Homeland Security official said the proclamation will not affect valid visa holders already in the United States. What is the H-1B visa programme? It is a non-immigrant visa programme for highly skilled foreign workers. Indians are the largest beneficiaries of the programme, getting more than 70 per cent of the 85,000 given out annually by the United States. The H-1B is the largest guest worker programme in the United States, and an important channel for high-skilled immigrants to get into the country. It allows companies to employ foreign workers in occupations that require technical expertise in areas that are difficult to fill. The H-1B programme has benefitted the tech industry enormously. The process to get the H-1B visas The programme is employer-driven. This means that companies tell the US government that they need these visas for certain specialised roles. The companies also promise the new workers under the programme will not be given salaries less than their American counterparts. And that the foreign workers will not adversely affect the working condition of other workers. The criticism President Trump and immigration hardliners argue that the present system is being abused to bring foreign workers on low wages to displace Americans, instead of attracting the really talented as its original mandate. The Trump administration also points towards a loophole in the system that allowed companies to hire foreign workers and then domestically outsource them to other companies, replacing their American workers. They do so by bypassing a rule prohibiting the hiring of a foreign worker if it directly led to the firing of an American worker. Outsourcing through a third-party personnel system is critical to the business model of Indian IT services companies. LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) A mid-Michigan man was arrested and a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing was found after a Nebraska State Patrol chase on Interstate 80 over the weekend. Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said the chase started Saturday afternoon when a driver hit a patrol car that was responding to another car, The Lincoln Journal Star reported. Thomas said a the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu swerved into the troopers lane, made contact with the troopers patrol car and kept driving. The driver, 22-year-old Jacob VandenBosch, of Farwell, Michigan, eventually stopped in a gas station parking lot. VandenBosch was jailed on suspicion of willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, criminal impersonation, drug charges and several traffic violations. His passenger, a 15-year-old girl, had a warrant for her arrest from Michigan and had been reported missing. She was to return with the help of the Michigan State Police. Mr. Salifu Adam Braimah, Savannah Regional Minister has appealed to the media in the region to intensify public education on the COVID-19 pandemic to help contain the disease in the area. He said, "Let us continue with the education on the risks of the disease and strictly practice the recommended protocols to prevent the spread of the infection in our region. The Minister, who made the appeal at a press briefing at Damongo, expressed worry at the manner in which some people failed to observe social distancing and the wearing of nose masks in particular in the area. So far, 35 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the region with 19 at Salaga and 16 at Buipe, with one recovery. Thirty contacts have also been traced and samples collected for testing. Dr. Crysantus Kubio, Savannah Regional Director of Health said additional isolation centres have been identified to cater for the increasing number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the region. Dr. Kubio appealed to residents not to stigmatize COVID-19 patients, contacts, or relatives as everyone was susceptible to the disease. He urged residents to remain calm as stakeholders in the region worked together to bring the situation under control. 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 Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) has launched a #Fly_Confidently campaign ahead of the return of the scheduled services in Oman, said a report. We will be with you on your next flight once the return of scheduled flights is approved by the Supreme Committee, said a report in Oman Daily Observer citing a message released by PACA. In cooperation with strategic partners, Oman Airports said it has put in place all safety measures at airports to prepare for the return of passenger operations when officially approved. International standards and regulations will be strictly followed under the supervision of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), Oman Airports said in a statement. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport, said that airports will return to operations once approved by the Supreme Committee, with a focus on self-service and preventive measures to ensure safe travel. Some of the measures implemented are the luggage trolley and personal sanitizing devices before entering the airport terminal, temperature checks before entering buildings Airports, ongoing sterilization of airport facilities, providing sanitizing tools within airports, distribution of physical separation stickers, installation of glass barriers at check-in counters, self-check-facilities, transferring passengers with symptoms to airport clinics and constant of sterilization of all pieces of baggage, the report said. [June 23, 2020] UCF Consortium Announces OpenSNAPI Project to Develop an Open, Standard Application Programming Interface for Smart Networking Adapters The Unified Communication Framework (UCF), a collaboration of industry, laboratories, and academia to create production-grade communication frameworks and open standards for data-centric and high-performance applications, today announced the formation of the Open Smart Network Application Programming Interface (OpenSNAPI) project. New technologies continue to be developed to support the migration of the data center architecture from the old CPU-centric concept to the data-centric concept. An important part of this transition has involved the creation of new compute options, including smart and programmable interconnect solutions, also referred to as Smart Networking Adapters/SmartNICs or Data Processing Units (DPUs). DPUs are interconnect elements that include specialized in-Network Computing engines, which are engines that can participate in the application runtime and analyze application data as it is being transferred within the data center, or generic compute cores. DPUs can be used to enhance supercomputing performance, offload security or virtualization functions, increase storage performance, and more. Through collaboration between industry, laboratories, and academia within the UCF consortium, the goal of OpenSNAPI is to define and create a standard application programming interface (API) for accessing the compute engines on the network - specifically on a smart network adapter. "The new world of data opens the door for higher degrees of scientific simulations which enable solving problems previously considered intractable, and for developing advanced deep learning engines," said Steve Poole, distinguished senior scientist and chief architect at Los Alamos National Laborator and UCF board member. "Our goal with OpenSNAPI is to further enable application developers to leverage the network compute cores in parallel to the host compute cores for accelerating application runtime, and to perform operations and processing much closer to the data. We invite the industry and academia to join us in this important endeavor." "With more devices coming online each day come new data sets that need to be processed, driving the need for compute efficiency," said Brent Gorda, senior director of HPC, Infrastructure Line of Business, Arm. "The power constraints of SmartNIC devices reinforce the importance of the flexible, efficient IP solutions we are providing to our ecosystem. The OpenSNAPI unified API is helping to expand the applicability of emerging use-cases, such as in-network computing, and ultimately enabling more efficient data processing through broader deployments of SmartNICs." The UCF consortium manages several open-source development projects, including UCX and UCX for Apache Spark. UCX provides an open unified communication software framework that enables users to exploit the capabilities of new high-performance computing systems, meet demands for scalability on millions of cores and support applications with critical functionality. UCX for Apache Spark is a high-performance, scalable and efficient ShuffleManager plugin for Apache Spark that utilizes RDMA and other high-performance transports to reduce CPU cycles needed for Shuffle data transfers. For more information on the consortium, or to become a member, please visit www.ucfconsortium.org. About UCF Unified Communication Framework is an essential enabler of co-design, opening the opportunity for innovation and development of heterogeneous co-processing elements working together synergistically and seamlessly to achieve a robust and capable ecosystem for exascale computing and beyond. The emergence of many-core processing architectures, field-programmable gate arrays, interconnect intelligence and data-aware storage are just some of the key technologies that depend on the ability to effectively communicate within such a framework to realize the potential of their capabilities. About Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is managed by Triad a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute, The Texas A&M University System and The Regents of the University of California for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and global security concerns. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005105/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A shaggy-haired Boris Johnson has revealed hairdressers will be allowed to reopen from July 4. The Prime Minister told the House of Commons stylists can take customers providing they use appropriate precautions such as wearing visors. But clients could face a three-month waiting list for a trim and some businesses said they will reopen at midnight to help clear the huge backlog. Appointments are already full for the first two weeks of July, with one London hairdresser preparing to work through a 2,000-strong queue. Mr Johnson said: 'Almost as eagerly awaited as a pint will be a haircut, particularly by me, Mr Speaker. 'And so we will reopen hairdressers with appropriate precautions including the use of visors.' Northern Ireland salons will be able to reopen on July 6, the Welsh Government will review an official opening date on July 9, but Scotland has not announced its plans. It will come as a relief to the public, who have either had a crack at their own barnets or left them to grow uncontrollably for three months. It will also bring joy to the 33,000 employees - mostly freelancers - across the country who have been off work. But hairdressers will not look the same after lockdown, with some of the proposed changes being: Appointments to be made remotely, with no dropping in on the day of the haircut Temperature testing for clients and staff on arrival Waiting outside might be required until a customer is ushered in by their stylist Reception desk will have a Perspex screen or be completely gone Payments will be contactless, with no cash tipping Chairs will be spaced out to observe social distancing guidelines Stylists will wear masks and gowns that are changed after each client Clients will be asked to wear masks and leave jewellery, handbags and coats at home wherever possible Luxuries of tea, coffee and magazines will not be provided, so customers should bring their own Hand sanitisers will be dotted throughout the salon Juniors will not be assisting stylists, but sanitising sinks and surfaces between clients. Customers could face a three-month waiting list for a trim as some salons say they will reopen at midnight to clear the huge backlog. Pictured: How they could look after lockdown in Amersham, Buckinghamshire A shaggy-haired Prime Minister said in the House of Commons today salons can take customers providing they use appropriate precautions such as wearing visors What can re-open on July 4 and what will have to remain closed? Reopening from July 4 Restaurants Cafes Bars Pubs Hotels Bed and Breakfasts Holiday homes Campsites and caravan parks Places of worship Libraries Community centres Museums Art galleries Workplace canteens Cinemas Bingo halls Theatres and concert halls (but no live performances) Barbers and hair salons Outdoor playgrounds Outdoor gyms Funfairs, theme parks and adventure parks and activities Amusement arcades Indoor leisure centres and facilities including indoor gaming Social clubs Model villages Indoor attractions at aquariums, zoos and safari parks, farms and wildlife centres. Remaining closed after July 4 Nightclubs Bowling alleys Ice skating rinks Indoor play areas, including soft play Spas Nail bars and beauty salons Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours Indoor fitness and dance studios Indoor gyms and sports venues and facilities Swimming polls and water parks Exhibition and conference centres where used for external events. Advertisement Hairdressers welcomed today's announcement as they look to clear their growing backlog of customers. Salon owners said the changes from a 2m social distancing rule to '1m plus' will ensure the viability of their business. Belle Cannan, 53, co-founder of Salon Sloane, in Chelsea, London, said: 'It will help because we are a small salon and only have eight positions. 'Going from two metres to one metre makes it much more of a viable business because you can accommodate more clients, and of course everyone is desperate to come in, especially in the first week to get their hair done.' Ms Cannan, whose clients include Victoria's Secret models and former Spice Girl Melanie C, said the changes would allow her salon to increase its capacity from 50 per cent to 75 per cent. She said staff will wear protective visors and will be required to wipe down chairs and equipment before and after every customer. Hellen Ward, co-founder of Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa in Chelsea, London, whose celebrity clients include the Duchess of Cambridge, said there were 2,500 people on the salon's waiting list. She said her team was expecting to see a 'few bad haircuts' from customers who attempted to trim their own hair during lockdown. Speaking about the new distancing measures, she said: 'It means we can have 46 chairs instead of 23 and therefore we can have twice as many staff on site. 'But salons as a whole, the people I know in the industry, are saying the same thing, that for the first two weeks we are going to stick to the rules as though it is still two-metre distancing. 'The worst thing we could do is release all the (appointment) time slots and then we find we are back in lockdown or the one metre has been upped back to two.' She said her salon would be opening from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday to clear the back-log of customers. Toni&Guy, which has 485 salons in 48 countries, said on Twitter: 'We can't wait to see you! 'In line with latest government announcement, we're planning to reopen our salons in England on Saturday 4th July.' Ms Ward said before they start cutting they need to assess the damage clients have done to themselves. She said there were already 2,000 people on the waiting list, making it a three-month wait for some customers. She told the Telegraph: 'It will take a while, partly because we have to work out what they have done to their hair during lockdown to work out how long a booking will take.' Hellen Ward from Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa in London (pictured before lockdown) said before they start cutting they need to assess the damage clients have done to themselves Appointments are already full for the first two weeks after doors swing open, with one London hairdresser preparing to work through a 2,000-strong queue. Pictured: The example set out by Gatsby and Miller in Amersham Dawn Montgomery acts as a client and senior colourist Laren Roads acts as a hair stylist in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, to show the experience could change after lockdown Protection packs and visors: Hairdressing will change in the new normal Hairdressers wearing plastic visors, 'personal protection packs' and a ban on magazines could be the new normal for some salons in England when they reopen next month. Salon owners, including the international hairdressing chain Toni&Guy, have revealed what changes are likely to be in place for customers looking to fix their lockdown haircuts come July 4. Here is what customers can expect: How can I book an appointment? While the booking system for most hairdressers will continue to be over the phone or online, managing to get an appointment could be difficult for the first few weeks. Hellen Ward, co-founder of Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa in Chelsea, London, said there were 2,500 people on her waiting list, while other salon owners said they were fully booked for the first two weeks of July. What about hair consultations? Hair consultations will no longer take place in the salon, according to Toni&Guy chief executive officer Nigel Darwin. They will instead be carried out over the phone or online prior to the customer's appointment to reduce the amount of time spent in the salon. Can I still read a magazine while I wait? Toni&Guy said it would be removing magazines from its salons during the 'initial period' of reopening, and would offer fewer refreshments to customers. The company said this was to ensure clients can see the cleanliness of the salon and feel confident in the safety of their visit. What will hairdressers wear? Belle Cannan, co-founder of Salon Sloane in Chelsea, London, joked that her staff will look like they are going into an 'operating theatre' due to the personal protective equipment (PPE) they will be required to wear. At her salon, stylists will have to put on a see-through plastic visor to cover their faces, while Toni&Guy said its staff will wear facemasks and single-use aprons. Hairdressers will also be required to wash their hands regularly and clean down their workspace after finishing with a client. Will I have to wear PPE? At Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa, customers will be issued with a free personal protection pack, which will include a face covering. The pack, which doubles up as a bag, will include a disposable cape and towel, which customers will be required to take with them when they leave. The company said it would await further Government guidance to determine whether customers will be required to wear the covering. Toni&Guy said it was also supplying single-use packs which will be placed at each work station and will contain face masks, towels and a hand sanitiser. Advertisement The Chair in Canterbury, Kent, revealed it will open from midnight to 4pm on July 4 to get a head start on the backlog. Owner Katie Hancock and another hairdresser are readying for the night shift before other workers start in the morning. The move will only be for the first day, but the salon's normal opening hours will be extended like many across the country. Ms Hancock said: 'Obviously the health and safety of our clients and stylists is the priority. All of our services will take a bit longer than usual.' Leeds-based Louise Howard-Long, who owns Architect Hair Salon, flogged 7,000 in priority booking vouchers but had to bring the scheme to a halt due to spiralling demand. She said: 'We have been receiving so many emails. I have been trying to reply to them all individually to keep it feeling personal.' The hairdressing experience will be vastly different than before lockdown, with stylists required to take steps to limit the spread of coronavirus. The National Hair and Beauty Federation released a set of guidelines last month to help businesses prepare themselves for reopening. It suggested walk-in salons switch to an appointment-only system, or offer timed tickets to allow customers to 'reserve' their slot and return at the designated time. To reduce the amount of time a customer spends in the chair, salons have been advised to trial online consultations where they will be able to discuss treatments. The document says: 'This could be done before your salon or barbershop is fully open for business. 'This also gives you an opportunity to talk to clients about safety measures you're taking to protect them and your team and to establish if an allergy alert test is needed.' Any discussions that take place in person should be kept 'to a minimum' and be conducted via the mirror while standing behind the client. The document adds: 'You can lower the risk of infection by standing side-by-side rather than facing people.' Stylist James Johnson from Kent said yesterday it was going to be 'so busy for us' with the backlog and that it would be 'first come first served'. He told Sky News: 'Our main priority is making sure our clients are safe, as long as we are safe as well. 'I think it's overdue and I think financially we are all ready to go back, there has got to be a point where we've got to get the money coming in and paying our bills.' On keeping clean in the coronavirus era, he added: 'As a member of the beauty industry our standards of cleanliness are already very high. 'It's just reinforcing that we are keeping it super clean, super disinfected. Obviously we will have to wear gloves and masks, maybe even aprons, and keep things in terms of contact to a minimal.' The Chair in Canterbury, Kent (pictured before lockdown), revealed it will open from midnight to 4pm on July 4 to get a head start on the backlog Leeds-based Louise Howard-Long, who owns Architect Hair Salon (pictured before lockdown), flogged 7,000 in priority booking vouchers but had to bring the scheme to a halt due to spiralling demand One of Britain's first hairdressers ready for reopening is the Gatsby & Miller in Amersham, which will feature Perspex screens. Parlours are among businesses to reopen in England from July 4 in a move dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs Gatsby & Miller in Amersham, Buckinghamshire - one of the 25,000 UK salon partners of beauty giant L'Oreal created a blueprint for the sector last month. It includes a digital screen in the window to display important reminders about social distancing. Clients are welcomed by one mask-wearing stylist who will stay with them for their visit via a one-way system. All staff will be wearing gloves and masks which will be changed throughout the day, while customers will be also asked to wear a mask during the appointment and hand sanitiser dispensers will be provided. All staff at the salon in Amersham will have to wear a face mask and gloves, while customers will be asked to wear a mask during their visit Dawn Montgomery acts as a client to show how customers will pay for their appointments - with no cash accepted Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:07:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit voiced on Tuesday rejection for all foreign military intervention in Libya. At an emergency videoconference for Arab foreign ministers upon Egypt's request to address the recently escalating tensions in Libya, Abul Gheit stressed that no military choice will achieve peace and stability in the war-torn country or would achieve victory for any party. He called for preserving the unity and independence of Libya, noting that any foreign intervention would divide the country and will break the unity of the country. The main objective of the meeting should be seeking "stopping the fight, reducing the dangerous military field escalations, reaching an immediate truce at all fighting lines, especially around Sirte," he added. Any arrangements for a ceasefire wouldn't stand for long unless accompanied by kicking the foreign fighters and mercenaries out, dismantling the military militia, added the pan-Arab body chairman. On Monday, the Arab League also hosted a virtual meeting by the International Follow Up Committee on Libya that called for ending hostilities in Libya. The scheduled meetings came after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that "Cairo has a legitimate right to intervene in the neighboring country to restore security and stability." Enditem STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A mother, her 8-year-old daughter and an older male relative found dead in a pool outside their New Jersey home might have been electrocuted, according to a CBS news report. The victims were not identified, but had only just moved to the neighborhood in East Brunswick about a month prior to the tragedy, neighbors told the news outlet. Neighbors reportedly said an electricians truck turned up at the house following the grisly discovery Monday. An investigation remained ongoing, as of Tuesday afternoon. The New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s Constituency Chairman for Tema West, Dennis Amfo-Sefah, has rubbished NDC's Sammy Gyamfi's argument that the losing of 40 sitting Parliamentarians reflects the voters' verdict that President Akufo-Addo has performed poorly in office. If wins and losses at the NPP's party primaries are what determine how Ghanaians judge the performance of President Akufo-Addo, then it means that Ghanaians see President Akufo-Addo as the best for re-election in December. This is because, the whole party is preparing to acclaim President Akufo-Addo as 2020 Flag Bearer on June 27, Mr. Amfo-Sefah said. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the just-ended NPP primaries, Mr. Amfo-Sefah who is popularly called Nana Boakye said Sammy Gyamfi, by his logic, has actually endorsed President Akufo-Addo for re-election in December. His comments are in response to Sammy Gyamfi's statement that the mass vote out of sitting MPs, some of whom were Ministers of State, was a verdict from the NPP's own delegates that the Akufo-Addo's government had performed abysmally and therefore did not deserve a second term. we must hasten to add, that the results that emerged out of the NPP's primaries, where as many as over 40 incumbent MPs lost their seats, reflects the dissatisfaction of NPP supporters and Ghanaians at large, with the abysmal performance of the Akufo Addo government, Mr. Gyamfi said when addressing a news conference in Accra on Monday . He added that, the defeat of so many incumbents, especially those in Parliamentary leadership, showed that the NPP delegates voted for change and passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in their own government. Reacting to this logic, Nana Boakye said the position of the NDC's National Communication Officer was an illogical one because, it was untrue that internal elections of a party determined the popularity of its government. If Sammy Gyamfi has forgotten, I am more than glad to remind him that in the build up to the 2016 election, the NPP's incumbent National Chairman lost to Paul Afoko; the Afoko Administration had a falling out with the rest of the party leadership and was removed and yet we went on to win the 2016 election with almost one million votes. If internal elections are what determine how popular President Akufo-Addo and his government are, then I throw a special invitation to Sammy Gyamfi for our special conference on 27th June. For his information, nobody in the whole NPP has stepped up to contest President Akufo-Addo and we are therefore going to massively endorse him. I call on the NPP to give President Akufo-Addo a 100 per cent endorsement come 27th June. Nana Boakye said. ---GNA The US Department of Transportation has barred Air India from operating chartered flights between India and the United States from 22 July without its prior approval New Delhi: The US Department of Transportation has barred Air India from operating chartered flights between India and the United States from 22 July without its prior approval, in an apparent retaliation for the Indian government not allowing American carriers to operate between the two countries. "We are taking this action because the Government of India (GoI) has impaired the operating rights of US carriers and has engaged in discriminatory and restrictive practices with respect to US carrier services to and from India," stated a US Department of Transportation (DOT) order issued on Monday. It said the Indian government has imposed restrictions that prevent US air carriers from making full use of charter rights. "Specifically, the GoI has prevented US carriers from conducting India-US passenger charter operations involving direct sales to individual passengers or through other distribution systems. For its part, the United States has not placed any limitations on US-India charter operations, and Air India has been and remains free to conduct the full complement of passenger charter services provided for in the agreement," the DOT said. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since 25 March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from 6 May to help people stranded abroad return home amid the pandemic. It has been operating chartered flights on Indo-US routes since 18 May where tickets on both the legs are sold. While tickets on the India-US leg are sold through Air India's website to the public, the seats on the US-India leg have to be purchased after contacting the Indian Embassy in the US. The US Department of Transport said it appears that Air India may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the Government of India-imposed prohibition of all scheduled international services. "On 26 May, 2020, Delta Air Lines, Inc. ("Delta"), via letter, requested permission from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to perform repatriation charter services similar to those provided by Air India. To date, Delta has not received approval to perform the requested repatriation charters," the DOT said. Explaining further, the DOT said Air India released a schedule for additional flights on 3 June that includes 49 US-India round-trip charter flights that are scheduled to operate between 10 June-1 July. "On 13 June, Air India released a schedule for 10 additional repatriation flights between 20 June -3 July," it said. Prior to the 25 March suspension of scheduled passenger services, Air India operated 34 round-trip flights per week to the United States. "With 59 flights advertised for the period from 10 June to 3 July, 2020, Air India would be performing charter operation at a rate of 53 percent of the operations it previously performed as scheduled services," the DOT stated. This situation, in which Indian airlines are permitted to perform services pursuant to their rights under the "US India Air Transport Agreement" while US carriers are not, creates a competitive disadvantage for US carriers vis-a-vis Indian carriers, it noted. While Air India is permitted by the Indian government to sell tickets directly to individual passengers or through other distribution systems, the US-based carriers are not allowed to do so even if they are permitted to operate a chartered flight connecting India, the DOT mentioned in its order date 22 June. "Effective 30 days from the service date of this order, it shall not perform any Third-and/or Fourth-Freedom charter flights unless the Department has granted it specific authority in the form of a statement of authorization to conduct such charters," the DOT said. Moreover, it said: "Air India shall file applications for statements of authorization required... at least 30 calendar days before the proposed charter flights." The Third Freedom rights under Chicago Convention rules allow an airline to operate flights from one's own country to another country. The Fourth Freedom rights allow an airline to fly from another country to one's own country. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on 20 June that the government will start thinking on resumption scheduled international passenger flights in mid-July, when it expects the domestic air traffic to reach 50-55 percent of the levels before the coronavirus pandemic. After nearly two months of suspension to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the government resumed scheduled domestic passenger flights from May 25 but in a curtailed manner and by placing lower and upper limits on airfares depending upon the flight duration. Moreover, Puri had said on 20 June that during phase 3 and phase 4 of the Vande Bharat mission, private domestic airlines have been approved to operate 750 international flights to repatriate people stranded amid the coronavirus pandemic. Phase 3 of Vande Bharat Mission began on 10 June. Bengaluru, June 23 : Amid rising Covid cases in the city, the Karnataka government may have to re-impose the lockdown in Bengaluru after consulting with experts, said a minister on Tuesday. "If the Covid scenario continues to be like this in the days to come, we may have to consider lockdown after consulting experts and taking the chief minister into confidence. No decision has been taken yet," said Health Minister B. Sriramulu. Alarmed by the rising cases in the city, the minister has appealed to the people to cooperate in controlling the virus by following all the safety precautions. On Monday, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had directed officials to stringently enforce lockdown in the pockets where the infections are rising. The city civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has sealed down K.R. Market and Kalasipalya Market for 15 days. Meanwhile, Sriramulu said that asymptomatic cases which were being admitted in dedicated Covid hospitals till now will be treated at community halls, schools, marriage halls, hotels and Haj Bhavan. All those facilities have been converted into Covid Care Centres (CCCs) where asymptomatic cases are treated. "As asymptomatic patients will go to CCCs, more beds will be freed up at dedicated Covid hospitals where symptomatic and serious cases can be treated," said Sriramulu. However, he assured that doctors and nurses will be available at CCCs round the clock to take care of the patients. Sriramulu said more senior citizens would be tested in the coming days, including scaling up the testing capacity. "The government has plans to conduct 2,000-3,000 tests in each district with two testing labs," he said. Meanwhile, former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a 20-day national lockdown. "Today India is among the countries with the highest number of Covid cases and the problem must be seen in conjunction with our high density of population compared to other countries," said Kumaraswamy. He said the selective sealing is not serving the purpose of arresting the pandemic and exhorted that the economy should not get precedence over people's lives. "I urge Karnataka chief minister to immediately announce the lockdown for 20 days, especially for Bengaluru. I also urge him to grant a compensation of at least Rs 5,000 through direct benefit transfer to all daily wage workers including cab and auto drivers and weavers," said Kumaraswamy. Contrasting the voices calling for a lockdown, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi has defended Yediyurappa's decision not to extend the lockdown as it will further weaken the state economy. Savadi said lockdown is not the only way to control the pandemic in the southern state. Bengaluru Urban has witnessed a total of 1,505 Covid cases, out of which 996 are currently active and 73 people have succumbed to the virus in this tech city. NASCAR drivers gave a show of support for Bubba Wallace Monday at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama by pushing his car to the front of the line. The act of solidarity came just one day after a noose was found in Wallace's garage. NASCAR said it is investigating and federal investigators said they will review the incident as well. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding doctors and nurses from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Army to run a 10,000-bed COVID-19 care facility being set up in south Delhi, sources said. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visits sprawling campus of spiritual organisation Radha Soami Satsang Beas which has been converted into a COVID-19 isloation centre in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo They said the chief minister has also invited Shah to visit the upcoming facility on the sprawling campus of spiritual organisation Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Kejriwal has sought doctors and nurses from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Army to run the centre, the sources said. The lush green RSSB campus is located near the Delhi-Haryana border. The COVID-19 facility, which will be 1,700 feet long and 700 feet wide, will have 200 enclosures with 50 beds each. Last week, the Delhi government had said the RSSB campus was being converted into the world's largest temporary COVID-19 care facility to help the city deal with the surging coronavirus cases. Earlier this month, Kejriwal had said that it would be used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms who may have problems in being home quarantined. Delhi would need 1.5 lakh beds in healthcare facilities by July 31 once people start coming to the city for treatment from other states, Kejriwal had said, adding that his government had "unprecedented challenges" ahead as data showed that COVID-19 cases would rapidly increase in Delhi in the coming days. On Monday, Delhi recorded 2,909 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the city over the 62,000-mark, while the death toll from the disease climbed to 2,233. From Friday to Sunday, 3,000 or more fresh cases were being reported every day in the national capital. Taat Herb Co., flagship brand of Taat Lifestyles & Wellness Ltd., is preparing to launch its Taat brand of hemp cigarettes, a tobacco alternative that uniquely replicates the experience of smoking a traditional cigarette. Initial users have indicated that the experience of smoking a Taat hemp cigarette is comparable to a tobacco cigarette between the cigarette-style packaging, a proprietary blend of tobacco flavouring, and an enhanced volume of smoke exhaled. Taat hemp cigarettes contain a minimum of 50mg of CBD in each stick, which has been shown effective in mitigating tobacco withdrawals and reducing dependency. With an expected product launch in fall 2020, the Company plans to carry out a strategic go-to-market plan to cultivate awareness of Taat hemp cigarettes and prompt user trials. The Company began trading today on the CSE under the symbol TAAT. LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT LIFESTYLES & WELLNESS LTD. (CSE: TAAT) (the Company or TAAT LTD) is pleased to announce it is preparing to launch its flagship brand Taat Herb Co., which has developed a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes to be marketed under the Taat brand name. Taat hemp cigarettes are flavoured with naturally-occurring terpenes as well as a proprietary blend of tobacco flavouring which contributes to a user experience emulating that of a traditional cigarette. Taat hemp cigarettes also contain a minimum of 50mg of cannabidiol (CBD, a non-psychoactive derivative of hemp), which has been shown to impart numerous benefits to tobacco users who wish to quit, including the alleviation of tobacco withdrawals and the overall reduction of tobacco dependency. The Company anticipates that Taat hemp cigarettes will officially be launched in fall 2020. With worldwide tobacco-related deaths now topping eight million fatalities per year1, it is clear that the time has come to introduce attractive alternatives to traditional cigarettes to encourage and facilitate positive long-term change for tobacco users. Story continues Data from the CDC2 indicates that 68% of adult smokers said in 2015 that they wanted to quit smoking, and 55.1% of adult smokers said in 2018 that they had attempted to quit in the past year, though only 7.5% successfully quit smoking in that timeframe. A common approach to quitting smoking is the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) which has been shown to double a smokers chances of quitting; however NRT does not mitigate withdrawal symptoms or cravings3. To address this, the user experience of Taat hemp cigarettes has been meticulously engineered to replicate each and every aspect of the experience of smoking traditional cigarettes. This includes an identical packaging format, a scent that matches natural tobacco with no trace odours of hemp, and an enhanced volume of exhaled smoke that resembles smoke exhaled from smoking a tobacco cigarette. By duplicating these seemingly minor attributes as well as satisfying the hand to mouth habit, anecdotal responses from users in informal trials of Taat hemp cigarettes have indicated that there are no significant experiential differences between Taat hemp cigarettes and legacy tobacco products. Taat hemp cigarettes are offered in Original and Menthol flavours. TAAT LTD founder Joe Deighan is an experienced entrepreneur in the tobacco alternatives space. In 2012, Deighan founded vapourizer liquid producer JJuice LLC (JJuice) as a result of his passion for the smoking alternative commonly known as vaping, which was instrumental to Deighan in overcoming his tobacco habit. JJuice was bootstrapped with no investor capital, ultimately perfecting a proprietary formula that gained popularity, leading to a presence of JJuice in stores across all 50 U.S. states and in 26 countries internationally, in addition to private label production for other brands. In August 2017, JJuice was acquired from Deighan with no debt by Dallas-based Global Tobacco LLC for the cash sum of US $840,000. As part of this acquisition deal, Deighan was appointed CEO of America Juice Co. (AJC), another vapourizer liquid producer for other brands on a private label basis as well as AJCs own in-house brands. While in this role, Deighan was inspired to create a hemp cigarette, something that did not yet exist on the market. Deighan ultimately elected to pursue this idea independently, leading to resignation from his role as CEO of AJC in June of 2019, and subsequently forming the Company. The Companys go-to-market plan is currently being finalized with a planned large-scale test sampling of Taat hemp cigarettes on a trial basis in retail storefronts throughout the state of Nevada. At this time, the Company is pursuing relationships with retail and distribution partners with an objective of establishing initial points of sale for Taat hemp cigarettes. Upon the launch of Taat hemp cigarettes, which is expected to occur in Q4 2020, the Company will utilize online channels to facilitate sales. Shortly thereafter, the Company expects that Taat hemp cigarettes will be available in retail stores in select markets in the United States. More information about TAAT LTD can be found on its website at http://taatusa.com . The Companys most up-to-date developments can also be found on its social media channels: Instagram: @TaatGlobal Twitter: @TaatGlobal The Companys investor presentation can be found on its website under the Investors header. Inquiries from interested parties may be directed to investor@taatusa.com . Tobacco-flavoured cigarettes with CBD can make a significant difference in helping people to quit smoking, said TAAT LTD founder Joe Deighan. I can understand the complexity of tobacco addiction both from the perspective of being a former smoker myself, and from the perspective of creating vapourizer liquid using proprietary formulas that proved wildly popular in the U.S. and internationally. By replicating every aspect of the experience of smoking tobacco cigarettes, Taat hemp cigarettes are designed to potentially provide a seamless transition from tobacco in a manner that does not feel like a transition at all. What users expose their body to changes, but the habitual motions and sensations stay the same. Reception of Taat hemp cigarettes by test subjects has been excellent, and we look forward to bringing this better-for-you tobacco alternative to the mainstream market as we align ourselves to take on the USD $814 billion tobacco industry. References 1 - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco 2 - https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/smoking-cessation-fast-facts/index.html 3 - https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/busting-nrt-myths On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, TAAT LIFESTYLES & WELLNESS LTD. Joel Dumaresq Joel Dumaresq, CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Joel Dumaresq +1 604 336 3193 info@taatusa.com About TAAT Lifestyles & Wellness Ltd. Taat Herb Co., the flagship brand of TAAT Lifestyles & Wellness Ltd. is an early-stage life sciences company based in Las Vegas, Nevada innovating nicotine-free and tobacco-free alternatives to traditional cigarettes. With a unique proprietary blend of all-natural ingredients and meticulous engineering of the user experience, Taat hemp cigarettes are designed to emulate every aspect of legacy tobacco products with no significant difference to the user. Enhanced with CBD, a non-psychoactive derivative of hemp, Taat hemp cigarettes provide benefits that include mitigation of tobacco withdrawals, and reduction of tobacco dependency. With an expert-led go-to-market strategy, the Companys objective is to position itself in the US $814 billion (2018)1 global tobacco industry to capitalize on the growing worldwide demand for better-for-you alternatives to traditional cigarettes. For more information, please visit http://taatusa.com . References 1 British American Tobacco - The Global Market Statement Regarding Effects of CBD on Smoking Cessation The Beckley/Exeter research program (University of Exeter) carried out a pilot study that found after several weeks following cannabidiol ("CBD") treatment, CBD helped tobacco smokers to reduce the amount of cigarettes smoked by as much as 40%. A follow-on study is planned, which will include a brain imaging component to examine the brain activity patterns underlying the probable therapeutic effects of CBD. Source: https://beckleyfoundation.org/cbd-for-smoking-cessation/ Link to Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030646031300083X Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, 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 in this news release includes statements regarding the potential launch of Taat brand hemp cigarettes, in addition to the following: Occurrence of the Company's go-to-market plan either according to the timeline provided or at all, and completed actual launch of the Company's Taat brand hemp cigarette products either at the anticipated time or at all. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco and CBD markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly 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 law. The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ede3f02-2f8b-4a8d-9bf0-986b6e4e322e The peloton rides through McLaren Vale vineyards on the fifth day of the Tour Down Under cycling race in Adelaide, Australia on January 20, 2018. (BRENTON EDWARDS/ Getty Images) $86 Million New Government Grants to Help Fruit and Forestry Recovery Wineries in the Adelaide Hills and apple farmers in Batlow devastated by the summer bushfires will be able to use $86 million in new government grants to help replant and get back on their feet. The federal government is announcing three new sector-specific grants programs on June 23, to support forestry, vineyards and apple growers struck by the fires. Apple growers will share $31 million in grants of $120,000 a hectare, complementing a NSW government program. Apple and Pear Australia estimates the bushfires caused $72 million in damage across the three main apple growing regions Batlow and Bilpin in NSW and Adelaide Hills in South Australia and wiped out about a fifth of the nations apple trees. Each hectare can cost $342,000 to regrow. Batlow, which was the worst hit, is in the Eden-Monaro electorate that faces a by-election on July 4. The opposition welcomed the funding but criticised the timing. Finally, Scott Morrison realises bushfire-hit industries have been decimated and need support, Labor senator Murray Watt said. Why did it take a by-election for him to realise? Smoke-affected wineries which have had to dump harvests will share a $5 million grant pool, with grape producers required to match grants of up to $10,000 each. Its been estimated that 60,000 tonnes of grapes have been lost from the 2020 harvest because of smoke taint, on top of the 700-800 hectares of vines that were burnt. The government will also set up a $40 million fund for forestry recovery projects to help producers deal with expected wood supply shortages through innovating or diversifying their products. Another $10 million will be used to set up storage facilities for processed timber products, fire-affected logs and other forestry products. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the overall aim was to help communities build back better. As our communities battle to overcome the effects of drought, bushfires and now COVID-19, its initiatives like these that will also help accelerate economic recovery and ultimately deliver more jobs to the regions, he said in a statement. Katina Curtis The New York Times A group of leading scientists is calling on a journal to retract a paper on the effectiveness of masks, saying the study has egregious errors and contains numerous verifiably false statements. The scientists wrote a letter to the journal editors Thursday, asking them to retract the study immediately given the scope and severity of the issues we present, and the papers outsized and immediate public impact. The letter follows heated criticism of two other major coronavirus studies in May, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. Both papers were retracted amid concerns that a rush to publish coronavirus research had eroded safeguards at prestigious journals. The study now under fire was published 11 June in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The lead author is Mario Molina, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995, with two other scientists, for finding a link between man-made chemicals and depletion of the atmospheres ozone layer. The study claimed that mask-wearing significantly reduces the number of infections with the coronavirus and that other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public. It also said that airborne transmission was the primary way the virus spreads. Experts said the papers conclusions were similar to those from others masks do work but they objected to the methodology as deeply flawed. The researchers assumed that behaviours changed immediately after policy changes, for example, and the study failed to take into account the seismic changes occurring across societies that may have affected the reported incidence of infection. There is evidence from other studies that masks help reduce transmission of COVID-19, but this paper does not add to that evidence, said Linsey Marr, an expert on the airborne transmission of viruses at Virginia Tech. (Molina was Marrs postdoctoral adviser.) A PNAS spokeswoman said: The journal is aware of concerns raised about this article and is looking into the matter. In two interviews, Molina did not back away from the conclusions of the paper. We show in the paper itself that we know things are complicated, we know that theres social distancing, we know that its sometimes perfect, sometimes not, he said. They just didnt understand our paper, he added. But the language he and his colleagues used was perhaps too strong, Molina said. Maybe we have some exaggerated sentences here were sorry. We should have been a bit more careful with the language. Many scientists believe that social distancing is a big factor in reducing transmission of the virus, and that airborne transmission, while it may occur, is not the primary means by which the virus spreads. Let me be clear: I think masks are an important intervention, said Bill Hanage, one of the signatories and an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But the paper, as it is, is not in a position to be able to look at mask use compared with other interventions. Still, the paper was shared widely on social media and covered by some news outlets. Several dismayed scientists on Twitter swiftly denounced it. Its important to clarify that this paper is of poor quality because its making a very sensational claim, said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida who signed the call for retraction. But it has big flaws in the analysis. The scientists call for retraction was reported by BuzzFeed News earlier Thursday. The paper was submitted under a little-known proviso, called the contributed track, by which members of the National Academies are permitted to solicit their own peer reviews and to submit them to PNAS along with the manuscript. About 20% of the papers that PNAS publishes are handled in this way, according to an analysis in 2016. Its a relic of an old way of doing things, Dean said. It gives an advantage to people who are in the right groups but without the right expertise. The public needs to be able to rely on rigorous peer review at journals, she and other experts said, and especially so because of a flood of reports with unvetted claims appearing during the pandemic. The self-selection of peer reviewers is obviously completely unhelpful during a period like this, Hanage said. There are good reasons journal editors typically choose peer reviewers and keep the identities hidden from a studys authors, he and others said. When you can pick your own peer reviewers, youre not going to get the kind of rigor that we need in the system, said Dr. Ivan Oransky, a founder of Retraction Watch, which tracks scientific fraud and retractions of papers. Frankly, its only a few degrees removed from faked peer review. Noah Haber, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University who spearheaded the call for retraction with a few other researchers, said the best outcome would be a swift retraction, followed preferably by PNAS reviewing its editorial policies on the contributed submissions track. Apoorva Mandavilli c.2020 The New York Times Company A sign is seen at the window of a closed J.Crew store near Rockefeller Plaza on May 4, 2020 in New York City. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Roughly 14% of business owners who received a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program expect to lay off workers once they deplete their funds, according to a survey published by the National Federation of Independent Business. The finding comes as lawmakers debate the necessity and contours of another round of federal relief measures for individuals and businesses, and points to the potential fragility of the U.S. economic recovery absent additional aid. The Paycheck Protection Program, which was created by the CARES Act in late March, offers forgivable loans to small businesses. 'A PPP story' White House officials credited the program for 2.5 million Americans returning to work in May a remarkable and unexpected turnaround after nearly 21 million people lost their jobs the month prior amid a shutdown of broad swaths of the U.S. economy. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards As a condition of receiving full loan forgiveness, the program requires businesses to rehire furloughed or laid-off workers. "The PPP, I think, led directly to the surprising, wonderful jobs number we had last Friday, where more or less 3 million people who were temporarily laid off or furloughed went back into work in the labor force," Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told CNBC on June 10. "That's a PPP story." Despite states beginning to gradually reopen their economies, many business owners say they'll likely need more aid to weather the economic recession. More from Personal Finance: Can I get unemployment after refusing a job? Colleges cut programs in face of budget shortfalls Is there a need for another stimulus check? Nearly half 47% of entrepreneurs who received a PPP loan or a loan through another relief measure, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, anticipate needing additional financial support over the next 12 months, according to the NFIB survey. About 30% of business owners reported sales as of mid-June that were less than half what they were pre-pandemic, according to the business federation, a trade group. Businesses want more aid More than half of survey respondents 56% said they'd likely need $50,000 or less over the next year, while 27% anticipate needing more than $100,000. If they don't receive extra aid, the employment rebound seen in May could prove short-lived. About 14% of PPP loan recipients anticipate laying off workers after depleting their funding, according to the survey. About half said they'd lay off between one and two workers, and 31% said they'd lay off three to five. About 12% said they'd lay off more than 10 workers. Though it improved slightly last month, the 13.3% unemployment rate in the U.S. is the country's highest since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Christopher Howell, 51, was brutally beaten inside Florida's Lake Correctional Facility last Thursday. He died in hospital the following day A Florida man jailed for stealing four $15 phone chargers has died in hospital after he was reportedly beaten by a correctional officer. Christopher Howell, 51, was pronounced dead on Friday - one day after the 'brutal beating' purportedly occurred inside the Lake Correctional Institution, 25 miles west of Orlando. Howell was less than halfway into a four-year prison sentence after he was arrested for theft and aggravated assault over a 2018 incident in West Palm Beach. The Florida Department of Corrections confirmed Howell's death, but said it cannot release the names of officers involved in ongoing investigations. However, Democratic State Rep. Dianne Hart took to Facebook Monday identifying the officer who perpetrated the beating as Michael Raymond Riley, Jr. 'I understand the need for an investigation, but there is film that can be pulled to immediately fire Officer Riley,' Hart wrote. According to The Miami Herald, Howell was beaten by the officer while he was still in handcuffs. Inmates and another prison officer told the publication that two other employees watched on, but did not intervene during the violent encounter. Howell was serving his four-year sentence at Lake Correctional Institution in Clermont, Florida All three officers have reportedly been put on administrative leave. Multiple sources told The Herald that 'Howell was left with a broken neck' after the beating. During his 2018 arrest, Howell was described as 'disabled' and as somebody with a 'juvenile disposition'. One inmate said Tuesday he was a 'good kid' with the 'mind of a 10-year-old boy.' They claimed there was no way that Howell would have been able to defend himself. In September 2018, Howell was arrested in West Palm Beach for stealing an $8 folding knife from a Home Depot, before heading to a nearby Target where he attempted to steal four phone chargers, worth a total of $60. He was reportedly stopped by an employee, at which point he handed back two of the chargers. Howell refused to give back the other two, and reportedly threatened: 'I have a knife, man'. He then took out the stolen folding knife from Home Depot and pointed the blade at the Target employee. Florida Rep Dianne Hart (D) released this press release on her Facebook page Monday Rep. Hart (pictured) says the incidents are part of a trouble pattern affecting many correctional facilities across Florida According to official records, Howell would have been eligible for release from Lake Correctional Institution in 2022. It's not the first time Lake Correctional Institution has been in the headlines for alleged violence at the hands of its employees. Footage shared to YouTube last year was allegedly filmed inside the facility, and showed a group of officers taking it in turns to punch a prisoner in the head. Meanwhile, other inmates told The Miami Herald that they had also been beaten inside the jail. One claimed he was punched until he passed out, while another claimed he was left with a broken nose after he was hit by a guard. Rep. Hart says the incidents are part of a troubling pattern affecting many correctional facilities across Florida. There have been over 60 arrests since August 2019 of correctional officers, contract workers, and medical staff for a variety of illegal activities including malicious battery on an inmate, sexual misconduct charges and introduction of contraband to name a few of the charges,' she declared in her Facebook statement. 'Is FDC the new breeding ground for illegal activities?' The number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 95 on Monday. That number not only nearly tripled the previous high mark 35 -- but it was more than any week except for last week. The total also appeared to send a message to Midlands younger residents that the virus will not have any problems spreading. The 20-somethings again had the most over the weekend (35), but every age range below 70 recorded double-digit COVID totals: 0-19 (14 cases), 30-39 (12), 40-49 (10), 50-59 (13) and 60-69 (11). There were no cases in the 70-79 age range and among those 80 and older. The confirmed cases seem to be at home isolating because that total jumped from 179 to 272, according to the health department. The number of residents who have recovered was up one to 114. Midland County residents in the hospital increased by only one from Friday to Monday. Midland Health Department officials also reported that community transmission was the No. 1 source of exposure of those testing positive over the weekend (34). Contact to a known case was a close second with 32 and leads during the entire pandemic with 218 of the 417 testing positive. The health department noted that 64 of the cases are from the weekend, but comparing apples and apples, there were 21 new confirmed cases on June 15. At the time, the Midland Health Department reported 93 positive tests through the first 15 days of the month. The number of confirmed tests reported Monday topped even that number. Honda Cars India has commenced the production of its all-new fifth-generation Honda City in India, the launch for which is scheduled in July 2020. The new City will essentially roll off the production line at Hondas Greater Noida plant in Uttar-Pradesh. The company earlier disclosed that its manufacturing operations at the factory resumed from mid-June, after complying with all the government regulations for safety against the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the all-new fifth-generation Honda City, it is claimed to be the longest and widest sedan in its segment. Equipped with the companys new BS6 compliant 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC petrol and i-DTEC diesel mills, Honda added that these powertrains offer power-packed performance along with superior fuel-efficiency. Thats not all, the all-new City claims to be Indias first connected car with Alexa remote capability, and comes loaded with segment-first features such as full-LED headlamps, z-shaped wrap-around LED tail lamps, 17.7cm HD colour TFT meter, LaneWatch camera and many more. The new City also benefits from a newly designed platform that boasts of enhanced light-weight, high rigidity and a collision safety structure which in-turn offers increased safety. Honda City 9.33 Lakh Onwards City | Honda city | Honda The Salvation Army will conduct a Day of Hope in Plainview on Wednesday to help those impacted by the coronavirus with rent assistance. Hope Totes which are boxes filled with food, cleaning supplies and hygiene items will also be distributed during the day. The SAs Emergency Canteen will also be on site to provide a light meal to recipients as well. A total of $15,000 in financial assistance is expected to be distributed to those that can provided proof of being negatively impacted by the virus, such as layoffs, cutback in hours, furlough and increase in childcare costs. Those meeting the eligible criteria for rent assistance will be give up to $500. Those meeting utility assistance requirements can receive up to $250. Those that receive assistance through the Day of Hope must first call to pre-register. Day of Hope activities will go on with people who have pre-registered and been pre-approved. Upon registration and approval, those who qualify will be notified of the location to receive services. The Salvation Army will continue to provide assistance to those who are not approved for the Day of Hope. Those needing assistance beyond Wednesday should call the Salvation Army Social Services Offices at 806-296-6375. 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. Thousands protest against COVID-19 passports in Sweden Chinese automaker Geely in talks to buy Meizu Kaunas officially becomes European Capital of Culture 2022 Turkish journalist who insulted Erdogan on live TV arrested Ipsos poll predicts Macron's landslide victory in French presidential election Germany elects new CDU leader Media: US on Monday will begin evacuation of families of diplomats in Ukraine UN expresses concern over disappearance of 2 activists in Afghanistan Carnival in Rio de Janeiro postponed due to omicron strain More than 9,300 Afghans claiming protection were taken to Germany Scientists suggest that under surface of one of Saturn moons lies ocean Russian Foreign Ministry: US and NATO launched toxi campaign against Moscow Sergey Nersesyan dismissed from post of Yerevan Deputy Mayor British Foreign Secretary to visit Moscow in February for talks with Lavrov 48-year-old man dies of frostbite in Yerevan 1,822 criminal cases launched in Kazakhstan after January riots Tatoyan: Expired drugs found in mental health centers in Armenia 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Alaska Putin and Pashinyan discuss by phone prospects for further cooperation within CSTO First batch of military aid to Ukraine from US arrived in Kyiv 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes off Philippine coast Armenia confirms 940 new coronavirus cases, no deaths Armenian rescuers pull out 50 stuck cars and provide necessary aid to 80 citizens Papua New Guinea parliament repeals death penalty law 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 The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has called for the passage of a whistleblower protection law in Nigeria. In a statement to mark this years World Whistleblowing Day, the organisation noted that Nigeria is playing catch-up with an issue other African countries like Ghana, South Africa and Uganda have formalized. Since the return to democracy in 1999, there have been several unsuccessful attempts to pass a law for the protection of whistleblowers in Nigeria. In December 2016, the federal government introduced a whistleblower policy, which does not provide a legal framework for the protection of whistleblowers. Different countries around the world are realizing the importance of whistleblowers who have been described as the first line of defence againstcrime,corruptionand cover-up. June 23 every year is celebrated as World Whistleblowing Day to raise public awareness about the important role of whistleblowers in combating corruption. This years celebration is coming on the heels of a global pandemic (COVID-19) that has created a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty for Nigerians. It has also highlighted the importance of accountability and the need for regular and reliable information from public and private institutions and officials. Its for this reason that we need Nigerians to speak up and be listened to if they have concerns about health and safety, fraud or other types of wrongdoing in the public interest in the management of the COVID-19 crisis, said Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL. Nigerians need to know the truth about the spread of the disease to respond effectively and help protect their communities. Transparency is vital and never more so than during a pandemic. We encourage all citizens and workers to participate in ensuring our governments, corporate institutions, both public and private, remain accountable during this crisis and beyond. We celebrate whistleblowers in the country for their patriotism. They keep us safe and ensure that funds are not diverted when they speak out against fraud, abuse and corruption. In the last three years, AFRICMIL has been implementing a project tagged Corruption Anonymous , supported by the MacArthur Foundation , which aims to highlight the importance of whistleblowing in the fight against corruption and the need to protect whistle blowers from retaliation. Chido Onumah, Ph.D. Coordinator, AFRICMIL BEIJING, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kuaishou, China's major video-sharing and livestream platform wrapped up a 24-hour special online-shopping campaign, in collaboration with China's e-commerce giant JD.com, with a total turnover of over 200 million dollars on June 16th. This campaign, under the name of "Doubling 10 billion yuan subsidies shopping extravaganza," consisted of several livestreaming sale sessions on the Kuaishou platform. Kitty Yuqi Zhang, a Chinese actress who is also the branding representative of Kuaishou's e-commerce, set a record of 32 million USD in her livestreaming sales debut, which attracted over 25 million viewers in 4 hours time. In seconds, some 22,500 iPhone devices were sold during her session on Kuaishou. Under the enhanced strategic cooperation reached weeks ago by Kuaishou and JD.com, the two companies co-launched the online sales campaign on June 16th, by doubling the customers' subsidy from one billion yuan (143 million USD) to two billion. Both sides offered half of the whole subsidy amount respectively. Kuaishou users were allowed to get access to shop goods directly on the platform without jumping to other platforms. Kuaishou saw the one-day campaign as the climax of its mid-year shopping carnival, which wrapped up on June 18th after 13 days. After the campaign, Kuaishou also set up an exclusive channel for the "10 billion yuan subsidy" as a way to normalize the program as routine. Meanwhile, Kitty Zhang will regularly appear on livestream sale sessions on Kuaishou. Kuaishou's mid-year shopping carnival, dubbed "Kuaishou 616 Shopping Carnival", was the first themed shopping event initiated by a video-sharing and livestreaming platform in China, instead of e-commerce services like before. It has successfully played a positive role in increasing Kuaishou's voice and recognition in the e-commerce industry and establishing its e-commerce brand image in Chinese consumers minds. Some industry insiders noted that online shopping through livestreaming platforms is a new trend in China's e-commerce era, given the fairly competitive result achieved by Kuaishou and JD.com through the last month. The cooperation between Kuaishou and JD.com still has many opportunities to expand. This event should be seen across the industry as a new bellwether. Many Chinese stars and celebrities also scored great successes making livestreaming sales on Kuaishou during past weeks as the platform has become a preferred choice for them to try out livestreaming marketing. Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of China's top air conditioner manufacturer Gree, sold more than 310 million yuan (about 42.33 million USD) of home appliances in a single three-hour sales event via Kuaishou. This compares to Gree's 2019 annual sales revenue of 350 million yuan at its official online shop. William Lei Ding, CEO of NetEase, a Chinese Internet tycoon, also tasted success with a 10.3 million USD sales report through a single livestreaming session. SOURCE Kuaishou Technology NEW DELHI - India has ordered Pakistan to reduce its embassy staff in New Delhi by half and said it will do the same in Islamabad after two Indian officials were seized at gunpoint in Pakistan, the Indian foreign ministry said Tuesday. Indias Ministry of External Affairs said the officials returned to India on Monday and described graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies. It also accused officials at Pakistans High Commission in New Delhi of having been engaged with acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations. The Pakistani charge daffaires was told that the decision is to be implemented within a week, the ministry said in a statement. In a statement, Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it categorically rejects and strongly condemns the baseless allegations made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and called them a pretext to seek a 50% reduction in the Pakistan embassys staff strength. Pakistan authorities said two people identified as drivers for the Indian High Commission were arrested when they hit a pedestrian and tried to flee. They said police searched the vehicle and found counterfeit currency inside. The two were released to the high commission and were transported to the border, where they crossed into India, the authorities said. Indias action is likely to raise tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, as Indian commanders continue to negotiate a de-escalation agreement with their Chinese counterparts after a deadly clash on Indias eastern border. India has long accused Pakistan of funding and sheltering the perpetrators of attacks in India, particularly in Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan region that is claimed by both countries in its entirety but is divided between them. Pakistan has rejected the allegations. Exposing well-known screenwriters of yet another information attack against Ukraine and strategic partnership with the United States is the responsibility of the current Ukrainian government, said the fifth president of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko. "Russia is shelling Ukraine not only on the contact line. It is also shooting at us from a variety of information weapons as part of a large-scale hybrid war. Today, the Kremlin's 'fifth column' fired another shot to undermine the Ukrainian-American strategic partnership that underlies an international coalition in support of Ukraine. The Kremlin interferes in American elections and draws its agents in Ukraine. Another goal of another fabrication from conversations of Ukrainian and American officials is to make the Ukrainian issue toxic to Washington and destroy bipartisan support for Ukraine by the United States," Poroshenko said on Facebook on Monday. The politician recalled that based on U.S. support, direct deliveries of American defense weapons were organized, in particular, Javelin missiles, Island class patrol boats, joint military exercises were held, gas independence from Russia was obtained, and financial and credit support was received to address social and defense issues. "The success of the partnership with the United States for Ukraine has been and remains a matter of life and death. I won't discover America if I say that without the support of such a superpower as the United States, Ukraine would not be able to withstand an unequal struggle against Russian aggression. This is a common geopolitical truth. It is obvious for the Kremlin. I hope that the Ukrainian authorities also understand this truth," Poroshenko said. He noted that the next so-called "plums" deserve one reaction - bringing to account the representatives of the "fifth column" who appeared in this special operation. A graduate of the KGB Higher School named after (Felix) Dzerzhinsky has spoken again. And the KGB officers, as you know, never retire. Such a mark is forever. Exposing well-known screenwriters to the next information attack against Ukraine and our strategic partnership with the United States is the responsibility of the current Ukrainian government," the politician said. Poroshenko said he hopes Ukrainian authorities are finally aware of the need to decisively oppose the sabotage of pro-Russia forces in order to protect cooperation with the United States and prevent Ukraine from returning to Russian influence. 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 The High Court has appointed a provisional liquidator to the Irish arm of the woman's fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize. The retailer, which operated 10 stores in Ireland and had 140 employees, sought the winding up orders in respect of both Monsoon Accessorize Ireland Ltd and its holding company Monsoon Accessorize Ireland (Holdings) Ltd. The retailer specialised in women's clothing and accessories. Seeking the provisional liquidator's appointment Rossa Fanning SC, appearing with Stephen Byrne Bl, for both companies said while they had experienced trading difficulties in the recent past Covid19, which resulted in stores being closed, was "a game changer". The firms made losses in 2018 and 2019, but the predicted loss in revenues arising out of the shutdown were expected to be very significant, the court heard. Sales for figures for the period March 1st to date for 2020 were down approximately 92% from the same period last year. Counsel said that earlier this month the firm's ultimate UK parent, Monsoon Accessorize Ltd, had entered into administration. Counsel said that as part of a pre-pack arrangement a company called Adena had taken over Monsoon Accessorize Ltd's business and assets. Counsel said the Adena is linked to Mr Peter Simon, a Swiss based businessman who is the founder of Monsoon group in 1973, as well as being a director of the two Irish firms. Counsel said that as a result of the parent going into administration the liabilities of the Irish companies had been impacted, particularly in regards to some of leases of the Irish-based stores. Counsel added that in 2013 the Irish companies had successfully exited examinership, after a scheme of arrangement was approved with its creditors, and was approved by the High Court. Counsel said that another issue was that in 2019 the firm's UK parent had entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement, which had resulted in landlords of two of its Irish stores taking Commercial Court proceedings against it. Judgement in those actions, counsel said, is pending. These difficulties have had the effect of rending the firms insolvent, with predicted liabilities over assets of over 1.8m for the year ending August 2020, and are unable to pay their debts as they fell due. The Irish firms had "no alternative other than to bring petitions seeking winding up orders," counsel said. Counsel said the appointment of a provisional liquidator was in the best interests of all the relevant parties. The liquidator would be able to engage with the firm's employees, landlords, creditors and will also be able to deal with the company's stock. It s creditors include its landlords and the Revenue Commissioners. Mr Justice Quinn said he was satisfied to appointed experienced insolvency practioner Jim Luby of McStay Luby as provisional liquidator to the companies. Mr Justice Quinn adjourned the matter to a date next month. PM Phuc holds phone talks with Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin discussed on Viet Nam-Malaysia cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common concerns over the phone Tuesday. The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom and security of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and committed to joining hands to sustain solidarity and common positions of ASEAN. Photo: VGP Phuc extended congratulations on Muhyiddin Yassin upon his appointment as Malaysia's 8th Prime Minister and spoke highly of Malaysian Government's measures to contain COVID-19 pandemic. The Vietnamese Government chief welcomed the two sides' coordination efforts in repatriating their citizens and thanked for Malaysia's support for Viet Nam's initiatives and the ASEAN's collective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Muhyiddin congratulated Viet Nam on its success in fighting the COVID-19 while highly valuing Viet Nam's initiatives and role in rallying the bloc's efforts in mitigating impacts of the pandemic, as evidenced by the issuance of the ASEAN Chair's Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to COVID-19 Outbreak on February 14 and Special ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Summits on April 14 on COVID-19. The two leaders agreed to further bolster bilateral cooperation through contacts and exchanges at all levels, soon convene meetings of the existing cooperation mechanisms and approve an action plan to implement the Viet Nam-Malaysia strategic partnership in the 2020-2025 period. Despite the current context, they agreed to double efforts to soon realize the trade goal of US$15 billion and strengthen investment ties. The pair agreed to beef up coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums. PM Muhyiddin pledged to work closely with and back Viet Nam to successfully undertake the dual role of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 and the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the tenure 2020-2021. The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom and security of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and committed to joining hands to sustain solidarity and common positions of ASEAN and to accelerate the talks on a practical Code of Conduct on the East Sea in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The best thing you can say about President Donald Trumps changing his mind about meeting with Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas strongman, is that its not surprising. In an interview with Axios, Trump said he had turned down Maduros envoys before. But now, he said, Maduro would like to meet. And I'm never opposed to meetings you know, rarely opposed to meetings. This has been a pattern. Before his 2018 summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un, Trump threatened him with fire and fury if he continued to test his missiles. As his administration increased sanctions on Irans economy, Trump tried to meet Irans president. The U.S. president likes making deals. In Venezuelas case, however, Trump has gone further than his predecessors against the ruler. He has recognized the international legitimacy of Juan Guaido, the leader of the countrys legislature, and supported his claim that he is interim president. It has been one of his administrations most significant foreign policy accomplishments to persuade most of Latin America and Europe to recognize Guaido as well. This was the correct call a year and a half ago; the 2018 election that Maduro won was not legitimate. Venezuelas constitution says the president of the legislature is the interim leader of the country until free and fair elections can be held. By recognizing Guaido, Trump recognized Venezuelas constitution. But he is frustrated that Guaido has not yet taken power. When asked whether he regretted following the advice of John Bolton, his former national security adviser, who shepherded the policy to recognize Guaido, Trump told Axios, I could have lived with it or without it, but I was very firmly against whats going on in Venezuela. Trumps frustrations are understandable. Ever since military forces loyal to Guaido failed to take over the presidential palace because one of the plotters betrayed the plan, Maduro and his opposition have been locked in a stalemate. Story continues That said, its potentially lethal to Guaido to have the American president voice doubts about him in public. Maduros henchmen have been targeting Guaido and his closest aides for more than a year. One factor that has deterred the regime from arresting Guaido is that he has enjoyed strong and open support from the U.S. Juan Cruz, who served on the National Security Council in Trumps first year coordinating western hemisphere policy, told me, There has been an ongoing argument inside of Maduros regime on whether to arrest Guaido or not. They have not done it in part because they fear U.S. reprisals. Trumps comments have made it more likely that Maduro will act against Guaido. Trump may or may not understand this. He tried to mitigate some of the damage on Monday, tweeting, My Admin has always stood on the side of FREEDOM and LIBERTY and against the oppressive Maduro regime! I would only meet with Maduro to discuss one thing: a peaceful exit from power! Thats all well and good. But notice here that Trump did not mention Guaido by name. The sad truth is that Trumps reckless outburst over the weekend about Venezuela was driven mainly by his rage at Bolton, whose new memoir paints a merciless portrait of the president as a craven ignoramus. In order to score points against a former ally who spurned him, Trump sabotaged his own Venezuela policy and endangered that countrys opposition leader. Unfortunately, thats not surprising either. 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. PATNA: In a major jolt to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ahead of Legislative Council polls in Bihar, five sitting party MLCs joined chief minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) on Tuesday. The assembly polls in the state are also due in October-November. The RJD, which has eight MLCs, is now left with only three MLCs. The MLCs who defected to JD(U) are Radha Charan Shah (2015), Sanjay Prasad (2015), Dilip Rai (2015), Md Kamar Alam (2016) and Ranvijay Kumar Singh (2016). All the MLCs who joined the JD(U) do not face the anti-defection law as they form the two-third of the total number of MLCs of the RJD. A letter about formal joining of the RJD MLCs was forwarded by chief whip of the JD(U) Reena Devi to acting chairman of the legislative council. Tuesdays development has made the JD(U) with 21 MLCs as the single largest party in the 75-member council, which presently has a strength of 46 as 29 seats are lying vacant. The BJP has 16 MLCs in the council and also has the support of an independent MLC. The polling for nine seats is schedule on July 6. The development also means that former chief minister Rabri Devi would lose the status of leader of opposition in legislative council. RJD state president Jagdanand Singh reacted strongly to the defection and warned JD (U) of a befitting reply. Nitish Kumar has lured legistarors through money. The war has started. He will get a befitting reply, said Singh. However, RJDs alliance partner, HAM-S spokesperson Danish Rizwan advised RJD that instead of giving tickets to capitalists, the party (RJD) should respect its workers. JD (U) also took a dig at the RJD. The party hardly respects its workers whereas Nitish Kumar respects all, said JD (U) Munger MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wide range of applications and advantages over conventional products and increase in demand from the personal care & hygiene sector drive the growth of the global hydrogel market PORTLAND, Oregon, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Hydrogel Market by Raw Material Type (Synthetic, Natural, and Hybrid Hydrogels), Composition (Polyacrylate, Polyacrylamide, Silicone-Modified Hydrogels, Agar-Based, and Others), Form (Amorphous Hydrogels and Semi-Crystalline Hydrogels), Product (Semi-Crystalline Buttons, Amorphous Gels, Impregnated Gauze, Films & Matrices, and Hydrogel Sheets), and End-User (Lenses, Hygiene Products, Wound Care, Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2020-2027."According to the report, the global hydrogel industry was estimated at $22.1 billion in 2019, and is anticipated to hit $31.4 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 6.7% from 2020 to 2027. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Wide range of applications and advantages over conventional products and increase in demand from the personal care & hygiene sector drive the growth of the global hydrogel market. On the other hand, potential environmental hazards impede the growth to some extent. However, rise in Research & Development activities and high opportunities in the developing regions are expected to create multiple opportunities in the industry. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1399 COVID-19 scenario- The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted a number of industries badly. However, the pharmaceutical industry has, quite naturally, managed to stay out of this loop. Uninterrupted use of hydrogel to prolong drug shelf-life has not let the global market fall in terms of revenue. Still, disruptions in the manufacturing process have caused certain interferences in the trade. But, with several government bodies coming up with relaxations on the existing regulations, it's projected that the market is not going to lose its pace. The synthetic segment to dominate by 2027- Based on raw material type, the synthetic segment contributed to more than three-fourths of the global hydrogel market share in 2019, and is expected to lead the trail by the end of 2027. The same segment would also portray the fastest CAGR of 6.8% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to its high water absorption ability and high gel strength. Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Hydrogel Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/1399?reqfor=covid The semi-crystalline segment to maintain the dominant share- Based on form, the semi-crystalline segment accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global hydrogel market revenue in 2019, and is projected to rule the roost till 2027. The same segment would also manifest the fastest CAGR of 7.4% throughout the forecast period. The fact that semi-crystalline hydrogels are superabsorbent drives the segment growth. Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to dominate the market throughout 2027- Based on geography, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the major share in 2019, generating more than one-third of the global hydrogel market. The same region is also anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.1% during the study period. This is due to increase in population and growth in the inhabitants' per capita income, in this region. Key players in the industry- B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG 3M Company Company Cardinal Health Essity Procyon Corporation, Ashland Smith & Nephew plc. The Cooper Companies Medline Industries Paul Hartmann Interested in Procuring this Report? visit: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1399 Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Polycaprolactone Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 Industrial Gloves Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Hydroxyapatite Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Healthcare Personal Protective Equipment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg AKRON, Ohio Police say a 27-year-old man was wounded early Sunday morning in a drive-by shooting outside a hookah bar just east of downtown. It was one of two shootings reported at the Exhale Hookah Lounge, 575 E. Exchange St., over the weekend. A woman and her friends escaped injury early Saturday morning when someone began firing at her vehicle early Saturday morning in the parking lot of the lounge. In the second shooting, police were called to the lounge just before 1 a.m. Sunday. They found the male victim outside the lounge with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim tells police that an unidentified suspect drove into the parking lot and opened fire. Shell casings were found at the scene, but no description of the suspect is available. The victims wound was not life-threatening and he was taken to Akron City Hospital, police say. Saturdays shooting occurred just before 2 a.m. The 27-year-old female victim tells police she was waiting in her car when she heard gunshots. The victims friends jumped into the car after they heard the shots and they drove away, police say. The woman later flagged down police officers, who discovered the car had several bullet holes. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Anyone with information can call detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals also text TIPSCO with tips to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Armed suspect ties up worker in robbery of Solon AT&T store, police say Teen shot 8-year-old in East Cleveland, police say Police: White man shouted racial slurs, tried to run over group of Black teens at birthday party in Cleveland Akron man gets 22 years for providing fentanyl that killed Wooster mother Another three inmates released from Cuyahoga County Jail inmates by mistake Businessman to serve 9 months in prison for espionage ROC Central News Agency 06/22/2020 05:35 PM Taipei, June 22 (CNA) A Taiwanese businessman surnamed Tu (), who had implemented a plan more than 10 years ago to obtain and pass on Taiwan military documents to China, will serve a prison sentence of nine months, as the Supreme Court on Monday rejected his final appeal. The case dates back to 2009, when Tu was approached during a business trip to China and asked by a Chinese government official and another man to introduce them to Taiwan military personnel who could supply confidential information, according to the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office. Tu's first recruit was a retired master sergeant surnamed Wang (), who was working as a security guard at a residential building at the time, the office said. Wang then enlisted the help of two active duty sergeants, surnamed Hou () and Chen (), who obtained several military documents over the years in exchange for money supplied by the Chinese via Tu, according to the prosecutors' office. Over a three-year period, Hou was paid NT$5,000 (US$167) to NT$30,000 for each document provided, including guidelines on Taiwan's military preparedness, the office said. On Chen's part, he was paid NT$20,000 for a communication training guide used by Taiwan's Air Force, the office said. Those documents and others supplied by Hou and Chen were passed on to the Chinese by Tu and Wang, according to the office. Prosecutors learned of the espionage setup in 2016 and pressed charges against Tu, Wang, Hou and Chen, under the National Security Act. Tu was initially sentenced to 10 months in prison, but the High Court reduced his sentence to nine months on grounds that the documents he had supplied to the Chinese were not classified. Tu then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which rejected it Monday, leaving him with no other options but to serve the nine-month sentence. The sentences of Wang, Hou and Chen were not made public. (By Liu Shih-i and Chiang Yi-ching) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Asus ROG Phone 3 will soon launch with high-end specifications and customtised gaming features. Asus on Tuesday officially announced that its next gaming phone, ROG Phone 3, will launch in July. Asus has also partnered with Tencent Games to bring requisite customisations on the gaming phone. Asus and Tencent had worked together on the ROG Phone II as well. GSMArena reports Tencent Games will work with Republic of Gamers in China to optimise the performance of game content on the hardware. The partnership will also aim to deliver a game experience thats closer to the player, the website added. It is worth noting that Asus has not revealed the official launch date for the ROG Phone 3. Ahead of the official launch, Asus upcoming gaming phone has made multiple appearances on the web. Last week, a leakster on Weibo revealed all the important specifications of the phone. According to the leakster, Asus ROG Phone 3 has a 6.59-inch full HD+ display. The screen could come with either 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate. The phone is also expected to come with a 64-megapixel camera on the back. Since it is a gaming phone, it will run on Qualcomms top-end Snapdragon 865 processor coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB built-in storage. The phone is rumoured to come with a 30W fast charger support as well. The announcement comes shortly after Asus revised price of its ROG Phone II in India. The gaming phone is now available for 39,999, up from the original price of 37,999. The wreckage of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 at the scene of the crash in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, in a file photo. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Iran to Send Black Boxes From Downed Ukrainian Airliner to France Iran will send the black boxes from a downed Ukrainian airliner to France for analysis, the countries said on Monday. Iran shot down the Ukraine International Airlines flight on Jan. 8 with a ground-to-air missile, killing 176 people, in what Tehran later acknowledged as a disastrous mistake by forces on high alert during a confrontation with the United States. The Islamic Republic of Iran will send the black box of the Ukrainian airplane to France in the coming few days in order to read its information, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, according to the official IRNA news agency. Frances BEA air accident investigation agency is known as one of the worlds leading agencies for reading flight recorders. Zarif made the comments in a phone call with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. Canada had 57 citizens on board. Champagne said in a statement that Zarif had committed to sending the flight recorders to France without further delay. He also said Iran had agreed to enter into negotiations for reparations but gave no details. Champagne has consistently pressed Iran to compensate the families of victims. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in February that Kiev was not satisfied with the size of compensation Iran had offered. The fate of the cockpit voice and data black box recorders was the subject of an international standoff after the plane was shot down, with Ukraine demanding access. Iran says the COVID-19 crisis has contributed to delays in a probe by its Air Accident Investigation Board. Tehran has been sending mixed messages about where the black boxes may be read. Last week, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said they would be sent to Ukraine. By Babak Dehghanpisheh and David Ljunggren Palghar, June 23 : In an irony, two residents of the Panju Island, off northwest Thane, had tested Covid-19 positive after the lockdown ended, sending shockwaves among the other islanders, officials said. "The two persons were found Covid-19 positive over the last weekend and have been sent for treatment. Other islanders and their contacts came forward for screening, but they were uninfected," said Panju Island sarpanch Ashish Bhoir. According to the isle's Primary Health Centre head Dr Sham Jungare, one person came around 4 a.m. on Saturday complaining of various problems, while another came a few hours later. "Suspecting them to be Covid-19 cases, we gave them primary treatment and sent them to a government facility on the mainland," said Dr Jungare. The cases have alarmed the 2.50 sqkm vehicle-free isle's 1,500-strong population, especially after it hit the headlines for going into a fortnight-long 'voluntary quarantine' from March 22, two days before the state and 3 days before the national lockdowns were announced. It was billed as possibly the first of its kind united voluntary action on any inhabited island in the world and was highlighted first by IANS (March 24). Kiran Bhoir, another resident, who pioneered the country's first 'local history tours' in the Vasai-Virar region of Palghar, said during the 'voluntary quarantine' and the subsequent lockdown, the island-village remained unaffected by coronavirus. "In fact, to ensure that nobody could walk out from the Western Railway tracks, which cross through the island, we have barricaded them. It also prevented migrants walking along the railway lines from entering," said Kiran Bhoir. It's only after the 'Unlockdown 1.0' started that villagers started stepping out, the limited ferry services to the mainland on the north shore at Naigaon resumed and public movement started. Other locals admitted that due to their seclusion, many had not developed the habit of wearing masks or keeping physical distance during the lockdown, but now all precautions were being implemented by the village elders. Virtually hugging Thane's border, around 15 kms north of Borivali station, the Panju Island is barely noticed by millions who commute daily on the WR's Borivali-Virar suburban sector. The green oasis of 600 acres with large swathes of salt pans, swaying coconut trees, dotted with rice, fruits and vegetable farms, It nestles between the two arms of the sprawling Thane Creek, which separates the country's commercial capital from the mainland. The Panju Island inconspicuously fleets by in seconds between Bhayander and Naigaon stations as suburban local trains cross over it, but is barely visible when long-distance trains zoom along the two creek bridges on the northern and southern sides cutting the small isle into east-west wings. However, it has a rich history going to the era of the legendary Maratha commander, Gen Chimaji Appa (1707-1740) who fought the Portuguese aggressors from the island. Panju village had given 21 martyrs to the cause of Indian Independence. The Maldives attracted a record 1.7 million foreign tourists last year, a 15 percent increase from 2018, according to the government The Maldives will reopen its tourist resorts from mid-July after a months-long virus-enforced shutdown, the country's president said Tuesday, adding that international travellers would be welcomed to the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot. Tourism is a major earner for the Maldives, a tropical island paradise popular with honeymooners and celebrities. "The country will reopen its borders for international travel, and the government will allow resorts to welcome visitors from July 15," President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih told reporters in the capital Male. Foreign visitors would not be required to undergo virus tests or carry virus-free certificates to enter the archipelago of 1,190 tiny coral islets, the government said. Visitors showing virus symptoms or with high fevers would be tested for the infectious disease at the airport, officials said. The lockdown would be eased further with schools and restaurants, as well as mosques, to be re-opened in the country of Sunni Muslims in the near future, Solih added, without mentioning any dates. Tourists were stranded in the Maldives when international flights were halted from late March to combat the spread of the virus. Most of them left by mid-April on government-organised or privately chartered flights. International flights have not yet resumed, although charters and special flights are permitted to arrive and leave the main airport in Male. The South Asian nation, which has a population of 340,000 people, has so far reported 2,217 virus infections including eight deaths. The Maldives attracted a record 1.7 million foreign tourists last year, a 15 percent increase from 2018, according to the government. Visitor numbers are expected to halve this year. Editors Note: Kristian Sendon Cordero is a poet, translator, and filmmaker. His book of Bikol and Filipino stories, Kulto ni Santiago, was published by the University of the Philippines Press in 2019. He received the 2017 Southeast Asian Writers Award from Thai royalty. Cordero runs the Naga City-based independent bookshop and cultural hub, Savage Mind: Arts, Books, Cinema. He also serves as deputy director of Ateneo de Naga University Press. Naga, Camarines Sur (CNN Philippines Life) Growing up in Iriga in the early 90s, one cannot simply dismiss the towering presence of this ancient mountain looming like a blue panopticon. We grew up calling it Mount Iriga, and for some strange reason, my childhood peers would always wait with trepidation and excitement that one day, it will erupt too, and finally, we will get the much attention we deserved the way Mount Pinatubo in Zambales was being covered by the national and foreign media. And so we waited and waited, and would debate endlessly whether it should be called a mountain or a volcano, or whether it is dead, or dormant, or active like the more popular Mayon Volcano in Albay. In the local language, the dormant volcano is beautifully described as nagtuturog, which translates to one that is sleeping. One day, it will awaken and change the face of the earth. Despite being one of the first three cities in the region and is proudly referred once in a while as the birthplace of Nora Aunor, Iriga has kept its provincial charm through the years. Unlike Legazpi and Naga which are becoming highly urbanized zones, Iriga is still waiting for its first McDonalds. But for now, it is the mountain or the sleeping volcano that lords over the city a landmark. Unlike the other six Bikol volcanoes (Mayon, Bulusan, Isarog, Malinao, Masaraga, and Labo) that only go by a single name, the mountain in Iriga is also called Sumagang, which translates to where the sun rises. Some people in Buhi, a nearby town, also proposed that in some historical documents, it is referred to as Mount Buhi, but the more interesting name attached to it is Asog. I first encountered the Vocabulario de la lengua Bicol (first published in 1754, republished in 1865) by the Franciscan lexicographer Marcos de Lisboa when I studied in the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary. According to the dictionary, the "asog" is defined as men in the past who were like ministers of the people for their idols. The asogs dressed like women, tore their ears like women, imitated the womens speech and actions during their rites, and did not marry women. The Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, or simply called Seminario, is one of the oldest structures in Naga City. The author spent his philosophy years in the said seminary. Photo from the private collection of MICHAEL PRICE A small creek in San Roque in Iriga called Ki Asog also carries the name, which suggests that it is owned by asog. But whether asog is a proper noun or common name, we have the first Bikol dictionary to help us configure certain historical assumptions that might be able to give us some kind of understanding about the precolonial world. In a poem written by another friar, Bernardo Melendreras, the asog became the minister of the aswang, and is described to be someone who only has one testicle, hence, the effeminate behaviors. In these colonial texts, one may observe the glaring repositioning of the asog, from an archaic religious character to someone that is affiliated with evil, and one who has a physical defect, the lack of a testicle, hence a person that needs to be cured, if not exorcised. In Filipino language, one figuratively describes a coward as nawalan ng bayag, which means, one who has lost his balls. Believing in a divine spirit that is neither male nor female, the asog is one of the two intermediaries sought by the precolonial population to connect with their divinities. The asog acted as liturgical ministers, epic chanters, healers, peacekeepers, and counselors to their people. Under the new colonial regime, however, their roles, functions, and identities were the first to be gradually obliterated. During the first years of Christianization and colonization, the friars launched massive and cunning strategies against the asog and the babaylan (women priestesses) and called them to be cohorts and agents of evil. Systematically, the friars with the growing support of the converted population built churches, belfries, and fortresses that provided more secured sanctuaries and defense than the tropical mountains, crocodile-infested rivers, and ancient caves, which used to be venerated as sacred places by the locals. A post-war photo showing Mount Iriga or Mount Asog, as seen from the Emerald Grotto built by Atty. Jose Calleja Reyes, a lawyer, historian, and cultural worker. Below, the Church of Iriga and the Calvario Hill where they used to stage the Crucifixion scene of the Annual Passion Play. Photo from the private collection of MICHAEL PRICE A throng of Catholic virgins and martyrs eventually replaced the pantheon of the native gods used to be invoked in times of feasts and famines. Eventually, the lowland Christian communities have been fortified like the typical cities and towns in Europe. Despite the sporadic revolts initiated by the native religious leaders, by late 17th century, the European colonizers had already declared their victory in this clash of the spirits, as described by Filomeno Aguilar, Jr. in the title of his book. Interestingly, among those who embraced conversion to the new faith include the former asog and babaylans, who eventually took some special positions in the church as catechists and parish workers. These bodies of land and water, and the names that we attach to these geographies present us some ways of understanding our imagined past. The word asog is a key that I tried to use in understanding my own sexuality and my personal histories: one was born in Iriga City, known as the city of the Superstar and a lair of the aswangs; one who grew up in a Catholic world when Inday Badiday was dominating the primetime television and news about volcanic eruption, the resurrection of the dead, and Marian apparitions were interspersing; and as someone who later entered and left the seminary to pursue this life of a creative practitioner. In my fifth poetry collection, Canticos: Apat Na Boses, I tried to make my promise of pilgrimage to this mountain, channeling four voices: that of a child from the Agta, a group of indigenous people that lives in the mountain of Asog; the mother of a rebel who had to climb the mountain to salvage the bones of her daughter; the old woman who peddles rice cakes and is suspected to be an aswang; and the seminarian who was asked to leave after he got involved in a romantic relationship with another fellow. In the fourth section which I titled Tingog ni Asog (The Voice of Asog), I made this overt reference to the asog vis-a-vis the personal narratives and myth-making involved in the process of writing the collection. I made use of church prayers, the novenas and the religious songs, the Bikol folk songs of Ano Daw Idtong Sa Gogon, Si Nanay, Si Tatay, and Gregorios Sarung Banggi to create a new way of looking into our myths and metaphors. Indeed, we can only make some educated assumptions based on these linguistic and historical explorations. Is it possible that the ancient mountain was a religious site for the early inhabitants of the region? The conjectures and possibilities are immensely rich especially when we think of our stories as a kind of structure that offers linkages of meanings. The past as imagined is something that we can reconstruct, negotiate, and reevaluate. The lexical existence of asog may serve as evidence that trans men and trans women were already present in Philippine society prior to the arrival of Christianity. The fact that most of our vocabularies in Filipino are non-binary also reveal a kind of mindset that can actually help us explore pre-Hispanic notions of power and intimacies, and help us reimagine the various identities we have to play something very similar to the drama of salvation that happens every Holy Week, when a varsity player turned Jesus Christ is hanged on the cross, while in front of him is the bluest mountain in Iriga. Despite the historical implications of the names we attach to it, Asog remains ancient, dormant, and silent. Musicians rehearse at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona to an audience of plants on Monday. (Emilio Morenatti / Associated Press) Barcelona's stately Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house took the meaning of live audience to a new level Monday amid coronavirus restrictions that have shut down venues worldwide. The Liceu reopened for its first concert since mid-March with a livestreamed performance of Puccinis Crisantemi" by the UceLi Quartet. But instead of patrons, 2,292 plants from local nurseries packed the Spanish theater, creating a sea of green amid the venue's red interior. The Liceu welcomes and leads a highly symbolic act that defends the value of art, music and nature as a letter of introduction to our return to activity, the theater said in a statement on its website. Spanish conceptual artist Eugenio Ampudia created the special performance, which was dubbed "Concierto para el bioceno." After being serenaded by the quartet, the plants were to be given to healthcare workers, primarily those in the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, to acknowledge their work on the front lines of the pandemic. A nine-minute video of the performance captured the quartet alone onstage, with cameras panning across rows and rows of leafy greens. The plants rustled at the end of the concert, as if emulating applause as the musicians took a bow. Other European venues are following the Liceus lead in reopening at a time when American theaters and opera houses remain closed. A church service outside the All Nations of God in Christ Church in Woonsocket on Sunday was held in observance of the memory of lives lost to police-related violence. The service included remarks from several pastors from Rhode Island as well as members of All Nations in Christ. Participants knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds during the service as a list of names was read. R&M, an innovative developer and manufacturer of high-quality network infrastructures, celebrated the opening of its new U.S. East Coast office and production facility in Elkridge, Maryland with a virtual open house on June 4. The video of the open house webcast, which includes a company introduction by R&M CEO Michel Riva, and executive presentations of the Elkridge facility, market trends and R&M solutions, is available for review. R&M presented the open house webcast in place of an in-person event to follow COVID-19 social-distancing rules. R&M is planning an in-person open house for later this year after COVID-19 social-distancing rules are relaxed or no longer in effect. R&M is a global company with over 10 production facilities in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, China, India, and Brazil. We are excited to continue our growth journey with the addition of the Elkridge production facility to provide a new level of service to our customers in the Eastern, Southern and Midwestern United States. With production facilities on the United States East and West Coasts, R&M now has the necessary resources to serve customers throughout the United States, which is by far the largest market for network connectivity and cabling, said R&M CEO Michel Riva. The opening of the R&M office and production facility in Elkridge follows R&Ms acquisition of Elkridge-based Optimum Fiberoptics Inc. in 2019. The Optimum Fiberoptics acquisition and the new Elkridge facility mark an important milestone in R&Ms expansion from Switzerland to the United States, which began in 2016 with the acquisition of REALM Communications Group, Inc. in Milpitas, California. The 10,000-square-foot office and production facility in Elkridge will serve R&Ms existing Eastern, Southern and Midwestern customer base, the fast-growing data center markets in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, and all military branches with military-grade assemblies such as TFOCA connectors, MIL-DTL-38999 connectors, and AN/MQJ switch box assemblies. The Elkridge facility can design for any needs and is fully equipped with R&Ms high-quality fiber and copper cabling products, ample production space and equipment to serve customer connectivity requirements including large orders and quick turnaround. Standardized production processes and integrated quality management guarantee the high quality of R&Ms solutions. While R&Ms new office and production facility in Elkridge will serve our Eastern, Southern and Midwestern customers, well maintain one line for customer service and technical sales support for customers throughout the United States, said R&M USA President Christopher Stratas. The Elkridge facility will enhance our mixture of global and local products for local area networks, data centers and public networks, and our unique ability to provide tailor-made, customized solutions for our customers. R&Ms East Coast open house video is available to view and includes: R&M company introduction, by R&M CEO Michel Riva The capabilities of R&Ms Elkridge facility, with a tour by Jay Megan, founder of Optimum Fiberoptics Inc. and business manager at R&M Market trends outlook with a U.S. focus, by R&M CMO Andreas Ruesseler Integration strategy for Optimum Fiberoptics and R&Ms position in the U.S. market today, by R&M USA President Christopher Stratas R&M later will announce and provide details for its in-person East Coast open house event planned for later this year pending the lifting of COVID-19 social-distancing rules. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:23:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Finland should accelerate its plan to give up peat as a source of energy due to its impact on the climate, Sitra, a leading Finnish public think tank, said on Tuesday, rolling out plans that it claimed would facilitate "a fair transition." Sitra suggests that the tax benefits given to those using peat as an energy source could be gradually abolished over a five-year transition period. In the end, the use of peat could be made illegal patterned on the way Finland has banned the use of coal to produce energy from 2029. Sitra lists biomass or geothermal heat as alternatives. Finland's current coalition government aims to reduce the use of peat by 50 percent by 2030. It also presumes that the European Union's (EU) emissions trading system would automatically reduce the use of peat in Finland. Sitra believes that Finland would get support from the European Commission's Just Transition Fund, which is intended to help the energy transition of coal regions. Careful planning involving the offsetting of job losses would improve the country's eligibility for EU support, Sitra noted. Peat, the lowest grade of coal, is brown earth deposit formed in marshlands and fens. It is used in district heating plants and industrial units. The burning of peat is currently responsible for some 12 percent of Finland's greenhouse gas emissions but covers only under 5 percent of its energy needs. Emissions from burning peat exceed those from private cars in Finland. Sitra acknowledges that the issue is politically difficult. Current peat deposits are a source of wealth to many private owners and ceasing the use of peat would mean that their assets throughout Finland would lose their financial value. Meanwhile, the Finnish peat industry says it indirectly employs 4,000 people. While Finland has to import coal, peat is a domestic energy source and enjoys preferential tax treatment. Coal, petrol and gasoline are taxed in Finland on the basis of their carbon dioxide emissions, but no such tax is currently levied on peat. The state research center VTT estimated some years ago that peatlands cover 1.2 million hectares in Finland with an energy content of 12,800 terawatt-hours (TWh). Tatu Leinonen, an expert at Sitra, told national radio Yle that it was essential to involve the affected people and industries in planning the termination. Sitra is a leading Finnish think tank operating on a capital initially donated by the state in 1967. Enditem The former CEO of German payment service provider Wirecard has been arrested, accused of inflating the companys balance sheet in an accounting scandal that centres on a missing sum of 1.9bn (1.7bn), prosecutors in Munich said on Tuesday. Markus Braun resigned on Friday after the company said that auditors could not find accounts containing the money. On Monday, Wirecard said it has concluded that the money probably does not exist. Prosecutors said a court issued an arrest warrant shortly afterward and Mr Braun, who had been in Vienna, turned himself in on Monday evening. He is accused of inflating the companys balance sheet and revenue using sham income from business with third-party acquirers, possibly in collaboration with further perpetrators, in order to portray the company as financially stronger and more attractive for investors and clients, they said in a statement. Mr Braun, an Austrian who had led Wirecard since 2002, was arrested on suspicion of incorrect statements of data and market manipulation. Prosecutor Anne Leiding said it remains to be seen whether the case may expand to include other offences, and investigators have yet to determine how often, for example, these incorrect results were used to obtain loans from other banks. After Mr Braun turned himself in, he pledged his cooperation in a first meeting with investigators, Ms Leiding told reporters. Wirecard AG was once regarded as a star of the growing financial technology sector, but its shares have fallen sharply after the company became the subject of multiple Financial Times reports about accounting irregularities in its Asian operations. Wirecard disputed the reports, which started in February 2019, and said it was the victim of speculators. On Monday the company fired its chief operating officer, Jan Marsalek, who had been suspended from the management board last week. German news agency dpa reported that Mr Marsalek had been in charge of overseeing daily operations including in southeast Asia, where the possible fraud occurred. Recommended How a fintech startup is born Two Philippine banks that were said to hold the missing money in escrow accounts said in recent days that they had no dealings with Wirecard, and the countrys central bank chief said none of the missing money entered the Philippiness financial system. In the early hours of Monday, Wirecard said its management board assesses on the basis of further examination that there is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9bn do not exist. Wirecard said it is in constructive discussions with banks on continuing credit lines, and is assessing options for a sustainable financing strategy for the company. It said it is examining other possible measures to keep the business going, including restructuring and disposing of business units. After huge declines last week and on Monday, Wirecard shares rallied somewhat on Tuesday. They were up 27.93 per cent in Frankfurt trading at 17.48 (15.82). Associated Press JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / As African oil and gas countries struggle with Covid-19's devastating impact on demand, two international groups seem to be celebrating it. Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) described the low oil prices caused by the pandemic as a "golden opportunity" for governments to phase-out fossil fuel support and usher in an era of renewable energy sources. "Subsidising fossil fuels is an inefficient use of public money and serves to worsen greenhouse emissions and air pollution," OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said in a joint OECD-IEA statement. "While our foremost concern today must be to support economies and societies through the Covid-19 crisis, we should seize this opportunity to reform subsidies and use public funds in a way that best benefits people and the planet." I would argue that the OECD and IEA don't necessarily know what's best for the people who live on this planet. Pressuring governments to stop supporting fossil fuels certainly would not be good for the African oil and gas companies or entrepreneurs striving to build a better future. And it could be downright harmful to communities looking at gas-to-power initiatives to bring them reliable electricity. Too often, the discussion about climate change - and the call to leave fossil fuels in the ground- is largely a western narrative. It does not factor in the needs of low-income Africans who could reap the many benefits of a strategic approach to oil and gas operations in Africa: reduced energy poverty, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities, to name a few. Ironically, a policy that would jeopardize Africans' ability to realize those benefits is being recommended at the same time protesters across America are calling for equity in some of the same areas. Although police violence against people of color is at the center of the protests - a response to the horrific death of a black man, George Floyd, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes - the protests also point to social and economic disparities between the races in America. While I don't want to exploit the death of George Floyd, I do see parallels between the racial disparities in America and the struggles of Africans whose lives could be improved through oil and gas. I always see a common pattern of ignoring black and African voices. Too often in America, the value of black lives was not given proper consideration until George Floyd's death forced the topic to the forefront and rightly so. And on the global stage, OECD and IEA are dismissing the voices of many Africans who want and need the continent's oil and gas industry to thrive. I would advise these organizations not to ignore the needs of poor people in African countries. As it stands, African energy entrepreneurs, the African energy sector, and Africans who care about energy poverty are basically saying, "I can't breathe." It's time to get the knees off their necks. The Dangers of Energy Poverty Consider the impact of energy poverty. Approximately 840 million Africans, mostly in sub-Saharan countries, have no access to electricity. Hundreds of millions have unreliable or limited power at best. Even during "normal times," energy poverty is dangerous. The household air pollution created by burning biomass, including wood and animal waste, to cook and heat homes has been blamed for as many as 4 million deaths per year. How will this play out during the pandemic? For women forced to leave their homes to obtain and prepare food, sheltering in place is nearly impossible. What about those who need to be hospitalized? Only 28 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's health care facilities have reliable power. Physicians and nurses can't even count on the lights being on, let alone the ability to treat patients with equipment that requires electricity - or store blood, medications, or vaccines. All of this puts African lives at risk. That's what makes gas-to-power initiatives so critically important: It only makes sense for African countries to use their vast natural gas reserves for power generation. And we're already making progress on that front. Today, about 13 African countries use natural gas produced domestically or brought in from other African countries, and there's every reason to believe this trend will grow. In Cameroon, for example, Victoria Oil and Gas PLC already provides domestic gas for power generation, and its subsidiary, Gaz du Cameroun (GDC), has agreed to provide the government gas for a new power station with the potential to accommodate growing demand. And in Mozambique, the Temane power plant, also known as Mozambique Gas-to-Power, is being developed now, and plans are underway to develop a second plant. Both will rely on Mozambique's Rovuma basis for feedstock. I have heard calls, including some from the OECD, for the development of sustainable energy solutions to meet Africa's power needs. Great - let's go for it. I'm all for renewable energy solutions, but Africans should not be forced to make either-or-decisions in this area. Energy poverty is a serious concern, and it's wrong to make it more difficult for African countries to use a readily available natural resource to address it. Investment - Not Aid One of the benefits of oil and gas operations in Africa is they provide opportunities for both indigenous companies and for foreign ones. And as foreign companies comply with local content laws, they invest in the communities where they work. Africa needs those investments, particularly training and education programs that empower people to make better lives for themselves. I want to be clear: Africa does not need social programs, even educational programs, that come in the form of aid packages. What's more, offering Africa aid packages to compensate for a halt or slow-down of oil and gas operations will not do Africans any good. I tried to make that point recently during a friendly debate with Prof. Patrick Bond, a very bright man and a distinguished professor at the University of the Western Cape School of Government. He argued that Africa should keep all of its petroleum resources in the ground to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further climate change. Developed nations, the professor continued, should compensate Africa for that sacrifice, and Africa could use that money to develop other opportunities. No. This is not the time for Africa to be calling for more aid. Africa has been receiving aid for nearly six decades, and what good has it done? We still don't have enough jobs. Investment creates opportunities, meaning Africans aren't receiving, they're doing. They're learning, working, building, growing, deciding. We, as Africans, must be responsible. Our young people should be empowered to build an Africa we all can be proud of. Relying on the same old policies of the past, relying on aid, simply isn't going to get us there. The truth is, no matter how you feel about the American Shale Revolution, Africans can learn from it. One of the reasons it succeeded is because you had small businesses willing to take a chance on new technology. They worked hard, and in the end, they boosted production. America became the largest crude oil producer in the world. Those companies made something extraordinary happen, and so can African businesses. We need more entrepreneurs willing to seize opportunities and, in some cases, make mistakes. That's how we grow and learn. We need government leaders to do their part by creating a welcoming environment for foreign investors and establishing local content policies that result in opportunities for business partnerships, quality jobs, and learning opportunities for Africans. Africa is capable of building a better future, of ending energy poverty, strengthening our economy, and improving the lives of everyday Africans. If we're smart about it, and we work together with purpose, our oil and gas resources can help us get there. And that's why this is a horrible time for OECD, IEA, or any other outside organizations, to interfere with our natural resources. Don't Stand in Our Way I understand and respect the OECD and IEA's commitment to preventing climate change. But when you describe the chance to harm a major African economic sector as a great opportunity, there's something wrong. When you put independent African oil and gas companies at risk, you're saying your objectives are more important than African livelihoods and aspirations. American institutions are coming under fire for failing to recognize that Black Lives Matter and to work alongside African-American communities to create positive change. I encourage the OECD and IEA to take a different approach. This is an opportunity for all of us to join forces, to take a team approach to growing Africa's energy sector, and to do it without dismissing Africa's right to capitalize on its own natural resources. By NJ Ayuk NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, CEO of pan-African corporate law conglomerate Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals. Image link: https://imgur.com/Lv7SyHD Contact: marie@apo-opa.org SOURCE: African Energy Chamber View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594939/African-Energy-Chamber-African-Lives-Matter-Too-Energy-Policy-Decisions-Should-Consider-Their-Needs To the editor: Even in these uncertain times, people are still hearing the words You have cancer for the first time including the 61,770 Michiganders who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Thats why I recently participated in a virtual meeting with Senator Jim Stamas. As a cancer advocate, I wanted our elected officials to know that preventing suffering and death from cancer is still critically important. Many insurance plans charge significantly more for oral chemotherapy drugs than they do for IV chemotherapy. I asked our lawmakers to require health plans to equalize out-of-pocket costs for oral chemotherapy and intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. By doing so, Michigan lawmakers not only make access to treatment easier for Michiganders with cancer but also help reduce their already heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19. We let our lawmakers know that volunteers across the state are counting on them to take a stand against cancer by supporting what works to allow for better access to care. JENNIFER DOCKUM Midland - Sofia Andres shared a special video that warmed the hearts of her fans and followers on Instagram - The emotional video focuses on the Catholic baptism of her beloved daughter, baby Zoe - Some of her celebrity friends also attended the special event, including actress Kathryn Bernardo - In her Instagram post, she thanked all of the people who participated in her childs baptism PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Sofia Andres shared a special video that warmed the hearts of her fans and followers on Instagram. KAMI learned that the video focuses on the Catholic baptism of her beloved daughter, baby Zoe. Aside from her family and her partner, Daniel Miranda, some of her celebrity friends also attended the special event, including actress Kathryn Bernardo. In her Instagram post, she thanked all of the people who participated in her childs baptism. PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedback Your true home, The Christian world welcomes you my love. Thank you so much to all the people whove become a part of this intimately wonderful celebration, Sofia wrote on Instagram. Screenshots from Sofia Andres' Instagram video Source: Instagram PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, Sofia shared new pictures of her adorable baby girl. Sofia Andres is an actress and endorser in the Philippines. She is best known for her role in the hit Kapamilya series, Bagani. The actress made headlines when she announced that she already has a child named Zoe with her non-showbiz partner, Daniel Miranda. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Source: KAMI.com.gh Police are investigating the death of a 49-year-old man (pictured) from Springvale in Melbourne Homicide detectives are searching for answers after a man was bashed to death at a campsite after an argument over a dog. The 49-year-old, from Springvale in Melbourne, arrived at the Toorongo Falls camping ground near Noojee, east of Melbourne, with a friend on Monday June 15. The pair planned to stay at the site for a number of days prior to the assault, which took place between Friday night and Saturday morning. Up to 25 groups were at the site on Friday night and a number of people may have witnessed the attack, which police believe could have started over the man's dog. The victim and his friend drove to Noojee Hotel following the assault at 9pm on Saturday night. Police have released photos of the campsite in the hope that anyone who was in the area at the time recognises them 'Staff at the hotel were so concerned for the man's condition that medical assistance was sought, however the man refused the assistance and the pair left the hotel and returned to the campsite,' police said in a statement. The pair returned to the hotel on Sunday evening when the victim became disoriented. Staff called an ambulance but the man died on the way to hospital. Investigators are waiting on a post mortem to determine a cause of death and probing potential witnesses to piece together the sequence of events. Police have released photos of the vehicle and campsite in the hope that anyone who was in the area at the time recognises them. The victim and his friend had planned on staying at the campsite for a number of days prior to the assault. Pictured: The caravan where the victim was staying Staff called an ambulance but the man died on the way to hospital. Pictured: The car that the victim and his friend used to drive to the campsite An image of the victim has also been released, but his name has been withheld. Detective Inspector Tim Day believes the assault may have been unprovoked. 'We know that people witnessed the incident and those people will be able to assist us in identifying those responsible for the assault,' he said. 'We'd like to speak to anyone who was at the campground over this last weekend from Friday 19 June through until Monday 22 June.' Detectives are also urging anyone who saw the victim at the Noojee Hotel on Saturday or Sunday night to contact police. ATLANTA, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Colo Atl, an American Tower company and the leading provider of carrier-neutral colocation, data center and interconnection services at 55 Marietta Street in Atlanta, has entered into an agreement to provide secured colocation space and interconnection services to Paladin Wireless , a Georgia-based wireless internet service provider. Paladin Wireless was created to bring better high-speed internet services to rural communities across Georgia. Colo Atl's proximity to their network allows them to securely and conveniently cross connect, which will help Paladin Wireless strengthen services for existing customers. The partnership also allows the internet provider to begin offering services in Oglethorpe County. "I look at the internet as the conduit for opportunity, and where there is no internet there is no opportunity," stated Stephen Fortmann, CEO for Paladin Wireless. "Our rural communities have little to no choice when it comes to the internet and its residents are being left behind. This is a community problem I feel that the community should fix, and that is where we come in. Colo Atl helps us with our mission to empower rural communities by giving them a way forward. Our proven solution not only fixes the internet, but it provides revenue back to the county and gives the community a measure of local control over the services provided." Last year, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported roughly 1.6 million residents across Georgia did not have access to fast internet connections. By entering into an agreement with Colo Atl, Paladin Wireless can reduce that number by moving forward with plans to expand its network and offer services to more rural communities. Access to fast, reliable internet gives residents a greater ability to conduct business online, access online educational programs, participate in telehealth visits and more. Colo Atl's affiliation with American Tower, a leading independent owner, operator and developer of wireless and broadcast communication towers, will provide Paladin Wireless with further capabilities to create stronger connections for its customers. "Our interconnected ecosystem, coupled with exceptional customer service all within our top-notch facility in downtown Atlanta attracted Paladin Wireless to Colo Atl," comments John Ghirardelli, General Manager for Colo Atl. "We offer no monthly recurring fees between tenants within the Meet-Me-Area, which helps them with their mission of providing cost-effective connectivity solutions to rural Georgia residents. We're proud to welcome them to the Colo Atl family and help them take reliable internet services to more residents across the state." About Colo Atl Colo Atl , an American Tower company, is the leading provider of carrier-neutral colocation, data center and interconnection solutions at 55 Marietta Street in the global telecom hub of Atlanta, GA. Colo Atl provides superior carrier-neutral colocation, data center and interconnection services at an affordable rate. Colo Atl is a carrier-neutral environment that allows all types of network operators to securely and conveniently cross connect within a SOC Type II certified facility. Colo Atl has no monthly recurring cross connect fees between tenants within the Colo Atl meet-me-area (MMA) and provides exceptional customer service. Colo Atl is also home to the Georgia Technology Center (GTC), a live laboratory for network equipment vendors to highlight their optical and electrical hardware and operating systems, and the Southeast Network Access Point (SNAP), which provides next-generation Internet Exchange (IX) solutions, including SDN peering, testing, collaboration and implementation. Visit Colo Atl online at: www.coloatl.com and follow us on Twitter @ColoAtl and LinkedIn . About Paladin Wireless, LLC Royston, GA.-based Paladin Wireless founded in 2015 is a wireless internet service provider that is committed to bringing quality internet service to Rural America, starting first in Northeast Georgia where it was founded. By utilizing state of the art wireless broadband networks Paladin is providing high speed internet to rural residential subscribers that is fast (up to 100Mbps for residential subscribers), reliable, and affordable to people who, until now, have had limited or no access to high speed internet at all. Paladin Wireless works with leading technology manufacturers, rural community leaders, local and federal government officials and investors to design, build, and operate the necessary infrastructure to provide rural communities internet equality. To learn more about Paladin Wireless or find out how Paladin can help solve the broadband problem in your community, please visit www.paladinwireless.com . SOURCE Colo Atl Related Links http://www.coloatl.com In this photo provided by Apple, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi speaks during the keynote address of the 2020 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, June 22 in Cupertino, Calif. AP-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul Lockdowns that have been in place across the globe have brought economic activity to a virtual standstill, and yet some positive flow-on impact is expected for the display industry as more people work from home, raising demand for plastic-based OLED displays in handheld devices and idling demand for OLED TVs. LG Display has been going through large-scale structural reforms at "zero base," including its decision to end production of conventional LCDs and to hugely cut its planned capital expenditures by at least 10 percent this year due to the massive influx of cheap Chinese displays amid the pandemic. Given LG's heavy presence in LCDs for use in large-sized TV sets and the continued supply glut, there is no question that LG Display, once the global industry leader, will end this year with heavy losses. But the group's display affiliate is already minimizing expected losses for this year as the spread of COVID-19 forced consumers to stay home, resulting in more purchases of IT products such as laptop computers, monitors and tablets. "Demand for such portable devices is surging thanks to the emerging work-from-home trend and online education amid the pandemic," an official at LG told The Korea Times, Tuesday, adding LG has been quick to respond to the trend by actively readjusting its product portfolio to focus on value-added IT panels. The output of displays for use in notebook and monitor products in May by LG saw double-digit growth year-on-year. While it's true the overall demand for consumer electronics is weak, rising display prices for laptops, tablets and smartphones are helping LG limit its drop in profits. "Major technology companies are increasing inventory in home tech products such as laptops and tablets. Panel makers are busy manufacturing displays used in such IT products amid the pandemic," an LG official said, adding LG is considering shifting its TV display lines toward manufacturing displays for such devices. The quickest way for LG Display to better counter the impact of crashing TV screen prices could come through substantial orders for its small OLED panels to be used in Apple's new iPhone models, as LG is one of the top display suppliers for the Cupertino-based company. Regarding any updates about Apple's growing calls to install LG's plastic-based OLED panels in Apple's upcoming iPhones, LG said it can't comment on client issues, though reports and industry officials said Apple asked LG Display to supply LCDs for use in iPads "as quickly as possible." Apple was said to have adopted LG's 10.8-inch LCDs for its upcoming iPads, which will be released in the latter half of this year. A senior executive in the display industry said LG Display is set to report lower-than-expected operating losses throughout this year. "Coupled with massive cost-cutting efforts and the rising demand for IT products amid the pandemic with the firm winning more LCD orders from Apple, the amount of LG's losses this year will be lower than expected," the executive said by telephone. Omdia, a market research firm, expects LG's global share in the monitor LCD segment to rise to 22.6 percent by the end of the second quarter from 21.2 percent a quarter earlier, while that in the laptop LCD segment is anticipated to expand 16.4 percent from 14.4 percent during the same period. A federal judge in Brazil admonished President Jair Bolsonaro for failing to wear a mask in public spaces in the capital, a rare rebuke for a leader who has repeatedly dismissed the danger posed by the coronavirus even as his country became a major hot spot. Although officials in the capital, Brasilia, have ordered residents to wear masks whenever they are outdoors, Mr. Bolsonaro has often been seen venturing outside with his face uncovered. Sometimes he shakes hands and encourages crowds. Now it may cost him. At least, financially. In an order issued late Monday, Judge Renato Coelho Borelli warned the president that he was subject to a $400 fine for appearing in public without a mask. The order came as Brazils virus caseload passed one-million mark over the weekend. More than 50,000 people have died, and in recent days health officials have often reported more than 1,000 deaths a day. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for another meeting with the leaders of the other Normandy-format nations (France, Germany and Russia) to discuss the Donbas conflict in the next few months. "We must do everything to make sure that we meet in the Normandy format in coming months, without waiting for the end of the pandemic. We, at least, are doing everything to that end," Zelensky said in an interview with the Canadian news outlet The Globe and Mail, the full version of which was published on the president's official website on Monday. He recalled Ukraine's call for ceasefire during the talks in Minsk. "There are far more tough challenges now. Consultations on the matter are underway. We talked about it with Germany and France, the first countries our delegations visited after the quarantine was announced. This shows how very important this is for us," Zelensky said. (@FahadShabbir) Belarusian presidential contender Valery Tsepkalo expressed the belief, in an interview with Sputnik, that the country should move toward the presidential-parliamentary system, also noting it would make sense to consider constitutionally limiting the number of presidential terms a person can serve, and to narrow down presidential powers MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd June, 2020) Belarusian presidential contender Valery Tsepkalo expressed the belief, in an interview with Sputnik, that the country should move toward the presidential-parliamentary system, also noting it would make sense to consider constitutionally limiting the number of presidential terms a person can serve, and to narrow down presidential powers. "There is no doubt we should move toward the presidential-parliamentary system and then as the political party system and civic institutions develop, and if there is a real demand in the society toward the parliamentary-presidential system, where the president would rather be a symbol of the state, and a firm moral beacon, some kind of a national umpire," Tsepkalo said. Commenting on the possible amendments to the Belarusian constitution, the politician, who used to serve as the country's ambassador to the United States, said the number of presidential terms should be limited to two. Tsepkalo also called for abstaining from adopting lustration laws, stressing that officials should have their powers extended and be accountable to the Belarusian people for the decisions made. "The government should become an institution appointed by the people and maintained by the people so that it provides services," Tsepkalo said. The presidential election in Belarus is scheduled for August 9. Seven people continue running for presidency after collecting signatures in their support and passing them to electoral authorities. Kabul, June 23 : Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has ordered the recall of the amended draft of the mass media law from Parliament until it was further discussed, the Presidential Palace said in a statement. According to the statement on Monday, Ghani said in a cabinet meeting that the Afghan government has always been committed to supporting the freedom of speech and enhancing the media activities and that "fortunately, we have no one in custody on charges of violating freedom of speech", reports TOLO News. The amended draft of the mass media law was sent to Parliament last week, which raised concerns among the media community and groups supporting the media. The mass media law that was enacted in 2006 has 54 articles and now the government has proposed amendments to at least 13, something that has been harshly criticized by 20 prominent Afghan media outlets and journalists' rights organizations. Critics say the amendments would allow censorship before and after publication, and based on the proposed amendments, "unnecessary" and "vast" authority would be granted to the government's monitoring organizations. Also some advantages and rights of media and journalists would be excluded and the independence of the National TV might be compromised - among other restrictions and amendments highlighted by journalists' rights organizations. 23 Jun Judy Ann Santos recently expressed her happiness over winning another Best Actress accolade for her performance in the 2019 movie, "Mindanao". As reported on Push, the actress who was recently honoured with the said award from Gawad Tanglaw 2020, posted a message on social media saying, "There is so much to be thankful for, despite the many circumstances around us... and for the rest of my life I will always be grateful to be included in the movie "Mindanao". "Many thanks [director] Brillante Mendoza, and to all those who make up the Mindanao movie... thank you so much for leading the torchlight in this tribute," she added. Prior to her Gawad Tanglaw win, Santos won similar accolade at the 41st Cairo International Film Festival and again at the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival. In "Mindanao", Santos plays Salma, a Muslim woman who cares for her cancer-stricken daughter Aisa while she awaits husband Malang to return from his service as a combat medic deployed in the southern Philippines. Area animal shelters showered with funds in memory of Betty White The online fundraiser challenged fans of actress Betty White to donate to a local animal rescue or shelter in honor of her Jan. 17 birthday. National security law essential for Hong Kong: Carrie Lam Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 16:43:41 The national security law for Hong Kong is an essential step that cannot be missed out, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Monday, calling the law an important measure that will allow firms and individuals to remain confident in Hong Kong. The upcoming national security law will ensure stability in the city and strengthen "one country, two systems," Lam said on an online forum organized by financial media service Caixin on Monday. She said that as long as we adhere to and improve the system of "one country, two systems," strictly crack down on criminals who endanger national security, stop violence and chaos and make good use of our advantages, Hong Kong will still enjoy abundant business opportunities, Lam said. A draft law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR was submitted for deliberation at the 19th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) from Thursday to Saturday, and Hong Kong's secretary for justice and heads of the six disciplined services departments expressed their full support for the legislative work on Sunday. Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Hong Kong secretary for justice, said that the explanatory statement clearly points out that the HKSAR, in safeguarding national security, should respect and protect human rights and freedoms which are applicable in Hong Kong under the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The provisions should be able to address public concerns, and she will lead the department of justice to provide full support to the legislative work, Cheng said. She said the department of justice, as one of the government departments shouldering the major responsibilities in implementing the relevant enforcement work, will establish a dedicated unit to handle prosecutions related to national security. The Secretary for Security John Lee, Commissioner of Police Tang Ping-keung, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Hermes Tang, Director of Fire Services Joseph Leung, Commissioner of Correctional Services Woo Ying-ming, Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang, and Controller of the Government Flying Service Wu Wai-hung will fully support the enactment of the legislation, according to the Hong Kong government website. The HKSAR government agrees that Hong Kong should establish a commission for safeguarding national security to be chaired by the Chief Executive, as well as set up dedicated units in the Hong Kong Police Force and the Department of Justice which will shoulder the major responsibilities in implementing the relevant enforcement work. The Security Bureau will render its full support and is undertaking the relevant preparatory work, the statement from the six disciplined service departments said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The San Antonio apartment owner who locked out an estimated 50 tenants for failing to pay rent amid the coronavirus pandemic has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by one of them. Olmos Club Apartments owner will pay tenant Juanita Herrera DeLeon about $4,250 in damages to resolve her claims for fraud, unlawful lockout and unlawful debt collection. DeLeon, 57, is the only resident who has sued MAC Olmos Club LLC, which owns the complex at 800 Basse Road. Apartment manager Edward Garza also was named in the suit. I think it went good, DeLeon said of the settlement, which was announced Monday before visiting Judge John Gabriel in state District Court in San Antonio. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer Christina Trejo, an attorney with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Inc., which represents DeLeon, said the settlement serves as a prophylactic. I may have only taken Ms. DeLeons case, but the message has been given to the landlord that he cant do this behavior because there are repercussions, Trejo said. So even though I only represented her, I would hopethe outcome benefits all the tenants in some way. I seriously doubt theyre going to do (lockouts) again now. On ExpressNews.com: Its intimidation: S.A. landlord locks out tenants, despite pandemic and eviction moratoriums MAC Olmos Club also will pay Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid $1,625 for its legal fees. We agreed to resolve the matter, said Ricardo Rick Lopez, a San Antonio attorney representing MAC Olmos Club. We obviously deny any wrongdoing. DeLeon was unable to pay April rent after losing her Hill Country Bakery job. Garza threatened her with late fees and an eviction lawsuit if she did not pay the rent and late fees by April 27, the suit says. She was scared that she would be homeless when San Antonio citizens were ordered to remain at home for their personal safety and the safety of the public, the complaint adds. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer On April 27, the suit says, Garza placed a device on DeLeons front door that prevented her from entering her apartment. It was widely reported that about 50 residents were locked out. I was crying. I didnt know what to do, DeLeon said. He knew everything about the virus. I dont think it was right for him to do that. A lot of people lost jobs. City and county officials questioned whether the lockouts violated state and federal law. In Texas, landlords arent allowed to lock out their tenants unless they go through a specific process first. DeLeon and other tenants said they had no warning that theyd be barred from entering their apartments. Stay law requires residents be notified of such action. If landlords dont follow Texas lockout law, tenants can sue for one months rent plus $1,000, in addition to other damages such as court costs and attorney fees. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases The landlords actions appeared to violate Bexar Countys ban on evictions that was in effect at the time of the lockouts. The Texas Supreme Court also had halted evictions statewide because of the pandemic. In addition, Olmos Club residents have been protected by a March 27 federal law that bars landlords with federally backed mortgages from filing evictions and penalizing tenants for 120 days if they fail to pay rent on time. MAC Olmos Club has a nearly $4.4 million loan from Fannie Mae. The moratorium is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. DeLeon called the San Antonio Police Department when she couldnt get into her apartment. Garza eventually relented and removed the device from her door, the suit says. She also didnt pay her May rent on time. Garza told her that he already had filed an eviction lawsuit against her and that she had court on May 18, the suit says. The property manager placed a three-day notice to vacate on her front door that same day. DeLeon sued MAC Olmos Club and Garza on June 3. The next day, state District Judge Antonia Arteaga issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the defendants from threatening to evict DeLeon or locking her out of her apartment. A hearing on DeLeons motion for a temporary injunction was scheduled for Monday. The motion wasnt heard because of the cases resolution. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox As part of the settlement, Trejo said she can sue MAC Olmos Club if it violates the CARES Act in the future. Legal Aid put on a presentation for Olmos Club residents to inform them of their rights, but Trejo said there wasnt a good turn out. It was held remotely rather than in-person so tenants had to call in. They were notified by mail of the call. When COVID came, we had to turn to a remote model, and thats just hard, Trejo said. Its a shame because nobody else applied for help. DeLeon said she received help to pay her April, May and June rent. Shes now working at IFCO, a supplier of reusable plastic containers. As for how she plans to spend the settlement money, DeLeon said it will go toward a new place to live. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD One of the most pernicious phenomena of modern times is the collusive lawsuit. This is how it works: a left-wing organization sues a government agency that is also controlled by the left. The lawsuit alleges that the agency is obliged to do something that the agency would like to do, but the Democrats cant get it passed. Then the partiessupposedly adverse, but actually in collusionsettle the case by having the agency agree to do what it wanted to do all along. If all goes well, a court enters an order enforcing the settlement. So the net effect is that a policy that the Democrats couldnt get passed is now a court-ordered mandate. This happens often. In Minnesota, Democrats are colluding to enable voter fraud in the upcoming primary election. This presumably is a warmup for the same effort they will make to enable fraud in the general election in November. With many believing that President Trump has a good chance to carry Minnesota after coming close last time, the Democrats are taking no chances. The case is League of Women Voters v. Simon. The League of Women Voters, a solidly Democratic organization, is suing Minnesotas Secretary of State, left-wing activist Steve Simon. The lawsuit seeks to suspend Minnesotas election laws, ostensibly on account of COVID-19, so that persons mailing in absentee ballots wont need to satisfy the statutory requirement of a witness to verify their identity. Without that requirement, voter fraud will be even easier than it is at present. If a Democrat finds a ballot lying around, as will happen many thousands of times in Minnesota, where the voter rolls include hundreds of thousands of names that are dead or otherwise not eligible voters, he can fill it out and send it in, no questions asked. Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon, who consistently abuses his office to facilitate voter fraud, quickly agreed to the settlement that his party wanted. If you think this is a scandal, you are right. Happily, the Trump presidential campaign and Minnesotas Republican Party hired excellent lawyers to intervene in the case and seek to block the proposed settlement. I have embedded their Opposition to the Proposed Consent Decree below. Here are a few quotes that demonstrate how the Democrats tried to achieve an illegal result by settling a collusive lawsuit. This voter fraud effort is part of a nationwide campaign: Democrats now contend that, in light of COVID-19, their legislative agenda is required by the Constitution. The Democratic Party (through its law firm, Perkins Coie) has filed COVID-19 lawsuits in virtually every swing State, including Minnesota. See Where Were Litigating, Democracy Docket, bit.ly/2V0rF7k. Allied groups have bolstered the Democrats effort by filing dozens of copycat suits across the country. For example, the League of Women Voters brought this suit in federal court, while the Alliance for Retired Americans (backed by the Democratic Party) and the NAACP (backed by the ACLU) brought overlapping lawsuits in state court. The good news: When these COVID-19 lawsuits face adversarial litigation, they usually fail. Many citations at the link. This is why a collusive settlement is the easiest path to voter fraud. In this case, the fraudulence of the settlement is obvious: Defendant [the Secretary of State] filed an answer on June 9, 2020. Doc. 22. In it, he denied all Plaintiffs material allegations. Doc. 22 7, 12, 62, 65, 80, 81, 87, 95, 100, 102, 109, 111. He also denied that heightened scrutiny applied to the witness requirement and argued that the requirement would survive any level of judicial scrutiny. [The cases cited by Intervenors indicate that this is clearly correct.] Doc. 22 106, 107. And he asserted that Plaintiffs failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Doc. 22 at 40. All of which were sound legal arguments, as the many cases cited in the Intervenors brief show. But the Secretary of State gave away the store, on purpose: At some point in the next seven days, Defendant made a sharp U-turn. On June 16, the parties jointly submitted a proposed consent decree to the Court. Under that decree, Defendant would totally refrain from enforcing the witness requirement and concede to all four kinds of relief that Plaintiffs sought for the August primary. Doc. 24 at 6. Further, Defendant would concede that Plaintiffs made a sufficiently strong showing on the merits of the claima position directly contrary to the one he took in his answer a week earlier. Doc. 24 20. In short, Minnesotas Democratic Secretary of State colluded with a Democratic plaintiff to rewrite Minnesotas election laws to facilitate voter fraud for the benefit of the Democratic Party. The Democrats motion to approve their collusive settlement will be argued in federal court tomorrow. Given the overwhelming authorities cited in the Intervenors brief, I assume the judge will disapprove the settlement. But this is an excellent example of the evils of collusive litigation. It is a huge problem that can be mitigated only to the extent that the courts are not controlled by Democrats. By way of full disclosure, I perhaps should add that the lead lawyer for Intervenors in this case is not just a great lawyer but also a good friend of mine. Community Television station C44 Adelaide looks set to win a renewal of their free-to-air licence for another 12-months. But C31 Melbourne is still facing a switch-off of its broadcast signal next Tuesday, June 30. C31 management has made attempts to seek a similar offer from the Minister for Communications but have not been successful. In a statement C31 said, We are of course very pleased to learn of the news that our counterparts in Adelaide may be getting another year of broadcast. However, it begs the question, if an extension is possible for one station, why not both? In March, Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher made clear to the two remaining community broadcasters that he would not consider renewing their free-to-air broadcast licences beyond the current deadline of June 30th, 2020. Through the pandemic the broadcasters have received staunch support from religious and multicultural organisations, including for their broadcasts of church services. But their contribution to the sector and communities extends back over two decades. Next week C31 is forced to move to an online-only model following a lengthy battle triggered by an announcement by then-communications minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2014. C31 General Manager Shane Dunlop states, This decision to provide an offer of 12- months to just one Community TV station begs the question as to whether any of the reasons put forward by Minister Paul Fletcher as to why more time could not be granted to the sector as a whole have any merit. The valuable spectrum in Melbourne will go unused for many years to come and at a great cost to the vibrant and diverse Victorian community whom C31 has had a twenty-five-year history of servicing. With 7 days remaining until our broadcast comes to a close, we ask one more time for Minister Fletcher to consider our case and to provide C31 Melbourne with the same 12-month extension he is considering providing to C44 Adelaide. CAIRO - The family of a prominent Egyptian pro-democracy activist arrested amid a clampdown following anti-government protests last year, said his youngest sister was detained Tuesday. Sanaa Seif, the youngest sister of activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, was taken into custody outside the public prosecutors headquarters in Cairo, her older sister, Mona Seif, said. Family members said men they believed to be security officers dressed in plain clothes put her in a white van. Sanaa Seif appeared later at the State Security Prosecution office, located in a different part of Cairo, her older sister said. Late Tuesday, the public prosecutors office issued a statement saying it had ordered the arrest of Sanaa Seif pending an investigation into charges that she broadcast fake news and rumours about the countrys deteriorating health conditions and the spread of the coronavirus in prisons on Facebook, among a slew of other charges, including inciting terrorism, insulting a police officer and violating the states protest ban. It said she denied the charges and was ordered to remain in pretrial detention for 15 days. Egypts broad counterterrorism laws often allow prosecutors to extend the pretrial period without limit. The statement also said prosecutors had launched an investigation into an alleged assault on Abdel-Fattahs family outside the Tora prison complex. Family members including Sanaa Seif had been at the public prosecutors office to file a complaint about the attack against them outside Cairos Tora prison complex a day earlier, Mona Seif said. They had been going daily for a week to Tora prison hoping to receive a letter from activist and relative Alaa Abdel-Fattah that prison officials had promised they would pass on to them, the family said in a series of posts on social media. In their posts, they said a group of women attacked them Monday when they were sleeping outside the prison complex, beating the two sisters and their mother and stealing their belongings while security officials stood nearby. Sanaa came to join us at the public prosecutors office (on Tuesday) so the prosecutors could see the bruises on her body from yesterdays attack, Mona Seif said. Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who rose to prominence with Egypts 2011 uprising, was among more than 2,900 people who activists say were arrested following relatively minor September protests demanding President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi step down. His arrest on Sept. 29, 2019 came after he had been released in March following five years in prison for taking part in a peaceful protest against the military trials of civilians. Philip Luther, Amnesty Internationals research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said Sanaa Seifs arrest outside the public prosecutors headquarters showed just how brazen the Egyptian security forces have become. The Public Prosecutor now has a choice: either to uphold the law and investigate the attacks against Sanaa Seif and her family, including the role of the security forces in yesterdays assault, or to be complicit with the security forces in targeting Sanaa Seif and her family simply for questioning her brothers arbitrary detention and inquiring about his health amid a pandemic, he said. Abdel-Fattah had been detained several times before under different governments for lobbying for civil rights on social media and in public. An influential blogger, he hails from a family of political activists, lawyers and writers. His late father was one of Egypts most tireless rights lawyers and his sisters are also political activists. His aunt is award-winning novelist Ahdaf Soueif. To many, Abdel-Fattahs imprisonment in 2013 after el-Sissi rose to power at a time when authorities imposed draconian laws banning public gatherings and unauthorized demonstrations was another sign of Egypts return to autocratic rule. El-Sissi led the militarys removal in 2013 of the countrys first democratically elected Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi. Morsis one-year rule proved divisive, sparking nationwide protests. Since then, el-Sissi has overseen an unprecedented crackdown on dissent and media, silencing critics and jailing thousands. YEREVAN. Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: At the sitting of the [majority] My Step faction [in parliament], among other issues, they also referred to the court's decision to release [second president] Robert Kocharyan on bail. [PM] Nikol Pashinyan said that this is another proof that the judicial system in Armenia is independent. And in connection with [opposition Prosperous Armenia Party leader, head of its parliamentary faction, and business tycoon Gagik] Tsarukyan, the My Step members inquired whether he would be arrested. Pashinyan did not answer this question, too; only the court knows that. It should be reminded that the session was on Saturday, whereas the decision to detain [Tsarukyan] was to be published on Sunday. As for R. Kocharyan's case, then the CC [Constitutional Court], which has already received the answers of the Venice [Commission] and the ECHR [European Court of Human Rights], will examine it on July 7. The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, has said the partys governorship primary will hold on Thursday as scheduled. Mr Aziegbemi gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday. One of the PDP governorship aspirants, Omeregie Ogbeide-Ihama, had gone to court to get a restraining order stopping the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the partys primary. Mr Ogbeide-Ihama, representing Oredo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, had, on Monday, approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, seeking an interim order stopping the governor from participating in the primary. His reason was that the timeline set for the exercise and which was widely publicised by the party for entry had closed. The judge, E. A. Obile, however, did not grant that prayer. The judge asked that the motion seeking to bar Mr Obaseki be served on the defendants including Mr Obaseki via newspaper publication had granted the prayers of the plaintiff and adjourned till June 24 the substantive hearing of the suit. However, the PDP chairman said the primary would hold as scheduled, assuring that it would get everything sorted out by Wednesday. READ ALSO: PDP is a family and we do not believe in legal issues to solve all our problems. We believe that we can sort out some of these problems through political means. And that is what we are doing at present. We are exploring both ways. Clearly, we will get this sorted out by Wednesday and we will have our primary on Thursday without any encumbrances. (NAN) Toxic man-made mercury pollution has reached the deepest point in the worlds oceans, the Mariana Trench. The heavy metal is toxic to humans and animals and was found seven miles beneath the surface in the trench in the Pacific Ocean. Deep-sea landers captured sea creatures up to 11,000 metres below the surface, and found unequivocal evidence that mercury in their bodies came from the upper ocean. In sea animals, the metal is often concentrated in larger organisms, when small amounts are ingested by smaller species, which are in turn eaten by larger ones. The Marianas trench is the deepest point in the Pacific (Getty) Read more: Coronavirus shows how vulnerable societies are, says Greta Thunberg Mercury has been implicated in environmental disasters in the past, including at Minamata in Japan in the 1950s when pollution from a factory caused thousands of deaths. Two teams of scientists reported that man-made methylmercury has been found in fish and crustaceans in the Mariana Trench. The work was reported at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry conference. Dr Ruoyu Sun, leading a group of researchers from Tianjin University in China, said that the results came as a surprise to his team. He said: Previous research had concluded that methlymercury was mostly produced in the top few hundred metres of the ocean. Read more: Large-scale solar power set for double-digit growth This would have limited mercury bioaccumulation by ensuring that fish which forage deeper than this would have had limited opportunity to ingest the methylmercury. With this work, we now believe that isn't true. Dr Sun explained how his team employed sophisticated deep-sea lander vehicles on the floor of the Mariana and Yap trenches, among the most inaccessible places on Earth. The scientists captured local fauna and sediment samples and the distinctive radioactive fingerprint of the mercury in the samples shows it came from the surface, he said. Location of the Mariana Trench (Getty) Dr Sun added: We are able to present unequivocal mercury isotope evidence that the mercury in the trench fauna originates exclusively from methylmercury from the upper ocean. We can tell this because of the distinctive isotopic fingerprint which stamps it as coming from the upper ocean. Story continues Read more: Wind power surges as coal use collapses in Britain A second group led by Dr Joel Blum of the University of Michigan sampled fish and crustaceans from the Kermadec trench near New Zealand (which drops to 10,000 metres) and the Mariana trench. Dr Blum said: We know that this mercury is deposited from the atmosphere to the surface ocean and is then transported to the deep ocean in the sinking carcasses of fish and marine mammals as well as in small particles. We identified this by measuring the mercury isotopic composition, which showed that the ocean floor mercury matched that from fish found at around 400 to 600-metre depth in the central Pacific. Some of this mercury is naturally-produced, but it is likely that much of it comes from human activity. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK The Trump administration is extending a ban on green cards issued outside the United States until the end of the year and adding many temporary work visas to the freeze, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations. A senior administration official who spoke to reporters Monday on condition of anonymity says the ban will stay in effect until the end of this year in an effort to free up jobs in an economy hammered by the coronavirus. The administration estimates the measures will free up to 525,000 jobs for Americans. The ban on new visas applies to H-1B visas, which are used by major American technology companies, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for exchange students and L-1 visas for managers of multinational corporations. Most people have a scar. However, you may not have to live with yours, as there are a host of products that claim to minimise them. Scars are formed when the dermis the deeper layer of skin is damaged, and the body produces collagen to try to heal it. In normal skin regeneration, collagen fibres are laid down in a neat, criss-cross pattern, but sometimes an injury can cause too much collagen to be produced. This leads to big bundles of the protein being laid down wrongly, causing scars. To find out which products can help minimise scars, we spoke to two consultant dermatologists Dr Ophelia Veraitch, from University College London Hospital and the Cranley Clinic on Harley Street, and Dr Alia Ahmed, from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and Londons Eudelo clinic. They assessed a selection, which we then rated Most people have a scar. However, you may not have to live with yours, as there are a host of products that claim to minimise them [File photo] Fast-healing gel Savlon Advanced Healing Gel, 4 for 50g, sainsburys.co.uk Claim: This promotes faster healing and helps reduce the likelihood of scarring, the maker says. It contains a hydrocolloid, which can both absorb excess moisture from a wound and prevent it drying out too much. Apply it twice a day to superficial burns, or minor wounds such as cuts and grazes. Expert verdict: A moist environment encourages blood vessel formation and the breakdown of blood clots, which is good for healing, says Dr Ahmed. The hydrocolloid in this gel should help create this ideal setting. If a wound heals faster there is less chance of infection, resulting in a neater scar. But while this gel is useful for initial wound healing, it would not help with older scars. 8/10 Savlon Advanced Healing Gel Massage trio Scar Gone scar treatment set, 36.99, stressnomore.co.uk Claim: This palm-sized, battery-powered vibrating gadget with three detachable heads a flat one to relax the scar tissue, a coned one to relieve tightness and pain, and a domed one to stimulate cell repair is designed to improve a scars appearance. It comes with a 50ml tub of honey and beeswax scar removal cream to massage into the skin. Use both three times a day, massaging for about ten minutes at a time, for six weeks or so. Expert verdict: Patients are often advised to moisturise and massage scars post-operatively to improve healing, says Dr Ahmed. Massage increases blood flow and the scars pliability, and this tool could be useful. The massage doesnt need to be vigorous, but this should be used under the direction of a scar specialist, who can tell you which of the heads is most suitable for you. As for creams, as long as they moisturise, there is a lack of evidence for one ingredient being superior to another. 6/10 Scar Gone scar treatment set Scar 'squasher' Kelo-Cote silicone scar gel Kelo-Cote silicone scar gel, 21.99 for 15g, chemistconnect.com Claim: This silicone gel hardens to form a waterproof layer, which the maker says lasts for 12 hours and will soften and flatten scars. Kelo-Cote says its ideal for raised scars caused by trauma, surgery and burns, but it is not for open wounds. Apply twice a day for a minimum of 60 days. Expert verdict: I use silicone gels like this routinely on my patients, says Dr Veraitch. There is good evidence they can aid in scar reduction, but the precise mechanism by which they do this is poorly understood. It seems the barrier created reduces water loss from the top layer of the skin, which helps normalise collagen production in the healing process. This makes the scar flatter and more pliable, as well as less discoloured. Using this early would be more effective than starting to use it many years after a scar formed. I wouldnt advise applying this to atrophic scars [indents such as those caused by acne or chicken pox] as these silicone gels are best at flattening a scar. 9/10 Does stretch mark oil smooth scarring? Bio-Oil Bio-Oil, 9.99 for 60ml, boots.com Claim: It is said to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. A placebo-controlled trial in 2010 found 93 per cent of users saw their scars improve over eight weeks, while 100 per cent said the same of their stretch marks. Expert verdict: Stretch marks are caused by rapid growth or weight loss, which usually start darker in colour and fade over time, says Dr Veraitch. It takes about 18 months for a scar to remodel the collagen fibres line up more evenly, making the scar thinner, flatter and paler. A daily massage during this period will smooth down irregularities. The product can make this massage easier to perform, but theres little evidence that its more effective than Vaseline. 5/10 Advertisement Needling pen Electric microneedling derma pen, 32.98, amazon.co.uk Claim: This needle pen comes with spring-loaded tips, four of which have 12 needles, and one which has a cluster of 36. It is intended to treat established scars such as stretch marks and those from surgery and acne. The maker claims that microneedling six times over a three-week period, for four minutes each session, can stimulate collagen production to make the skin more supple. Electric microneedling derma pen Expert verdict: Microneedling is used successfully in dermatology to treat mild to moderate acne scars, but not more severe types of scarring, says Dr Ahmed. The theory is that the needling action triggers a release of growth factors and promotes collagen production, which regenerates the skin. However, this is a specialised treatment and I would be concerned that a lay person could damage their skin. If you are interested in needling, which is not normally available on the NHS, see a dermatologist. 2/10 Pressure patch Elastoplast Scar Reducer Elastoplast Scar Reducer, 30 for 21 plasters, boots.com Claim: The flexible, transparent patches can be cut to size to put over a scar after the wound has completely closed. Once the patch is in place, it both exerts pressure and traps heat. According to the clinical studies the maker references, this increases blood flow to the scar to support the restructuring of the connective tissue during healing. The maker says you will see noticeable results within four weeks. You should wear the patch for a minimum of 12 hours a day and change it daily. Expert verdict: In five separate clinical studies, this type of product came out well, says Dr Ahmed. Im not surprised, as there is lots of well-documented evidence to suggest that a moist and warm environment around the body temperature of 37c has a positive effect on healing. Keeping the wound moist prevents dehydration, which would slow down the healing process. It also enhances blood vessel formation and collagen production, along with improving the breakdown of dead tissue and clots, which results in a neater-looking scar. 9/10 'Shrinking cream' Science Of Skin Solution For Scars, 18.99 for 30ml, scienceofskin.com Claim: This cream contains an active green tea extract that shrinks old and new abnormal scars, according to the maker. A study by the University of Manchester, which was independently funded but involved the companys two founders, showed the cream reduced the thickness of scars by 20 per cent within four to six weeks. Science Of Skin Solution For Scars The research, which was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology last year, also found that scar redness was reduced by 40 per cent. Expert verdict: The study had good methodology and used 62 volunteers who each had a biopsy taken from their upper arm. This left a tiny scar. Half had the solution with the extract in, while half did not, says Dr Ahmed. But the existing studies need to include longer-term follow-ups to see if the effects are sustained. Broadly speaking, this solutions mechanism makes sense. The green tea extract inhibits mast cell activity part of the inflammation response so makes the scar less red. 7/10 Suction cups Vacuum cupping set, 20.89, amazon.co.uk Claim: These five toughened glass cups are each a different size, for use on varying scars. When a cup is put over the scar and its rubber handle is compressed, air is pushed out. This creates a vacuum, and the skin is gently squeezed. The theory behind this treatment is that the suction increases blood flow under the skin, which breaks up the thickened scar tissue. Expert verdict: There is little evidence for this. I cannot see a situation where these cups might be useful, says Dr Veraitch. As they are made of glass, it could be dangerous if they cracked or broke, and might even damage the skin. These are a waste of money. 0/10 By Trend Four new multi-functional Mi-35M attack helicopters arrived at the air base of Kazakhstans Air Force, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Defense. The helicopters were received within the framework of the ongoing rearmament in the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. Helicopters were supplied within the framework of military-technical cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, as well as an agreement between Kazakhstans Ministry of Defense and Russian Rosoboronexport enterprise. Mi-35M is the worlds only multirole attack helicopter capable of effective fire engagement, transportation of up to 8 fully-equipped troops, munitions or other cargos weighing up to 1,500 kg inside a cargo cabin and up to 2,400 kg with an external sling, evacuation of the injured and delivery of technical personnel to the independent basing areas. Rosoboronexports activities are aimed at the consolidation of Russias military and political foothold in various regions across the globe, preservation of the countrys position among global exporters of MG. Rosoboronexport observes trends in the development of the global arms market and uses targeted marketing efforts in order to expand its geography, enlarge its portfolio and increase export volumes of Russian military and double-purpose products. The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has supported projects of Ukrainian companies Ukrgasbank, Galnaftogaz and Metinvest. "A meeting of the Board of Directors of the BSTDB was held, which, among other things, approved the financing of four projects of Ukrainian companies: Ukrgasbank, Galnaftogaz, Metinvest and the construction of a school in Kyiv," the press service of the Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ministry informs. It is noted that the 22nd annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine - Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka after the meeting of the Board of Directors, namely on June 18. Kachka stressed that despite the crisis, the BSTDB continued to work with projects with big potential in the public and private sectors and to support the economic development of member states. Since the start of Banks operation in Ukraine, it has supported the implementation of 47 projects totaling EUR 738.9 million. In particular, the projects focus on consumer sector, financial institutions, industry, production of consumer goods, utilities, telecommunications, energy, raw materials and supplies. Thus, the meeting participants were presented a report on the Banks operation in 2019, informed about the treasury operations and its financing strategy. The participants also discussed the further strategic course of the BSTDB in the face of modern challenges and determined the Bank's budget for 2020. The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank was established in 1998 on the basis of the agreement between the member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, signed in Tbilisi on June 30, 1994. The Bank was co-founded by 11 countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine. The BSTDB is designed to promote economic cooperation, trade and cooperation between the countries of the Black Sea region. The goals of the Bank are the development of trade relations in the region, the promotion of international projects, the promotion of foreign investment, the provision of guarantees for the development of trade and economic relations at the state level and in private business. ol "I am incredibly honored to be breaking ground on the Woodlawn Pointe development, a critical step in reversing the negative effects of redlining in our communities," said Lamell McMorris, Founding Principal of Greenlining Realty USA . "While this is a historic moment for our community, it is also an incredibly special time for me personally as we lead this important work in my own hometown and embark on a new path forward for Woodlawn. I am thankful to our community and supporters nationwide for their commitment to this project." A native of the West Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, IL, McMorris founded Greenlining Realty USA to reverse the effect of redlining in low-income communities through the development of affordable housing and vibrant commercial corridors. McMorris is a lifelong advocate of civil, economic and social rights, currently serving on the boards of the National Action Network, the National Urban League and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and having previously served on the board of the NAACP and as the Executive Director and COO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. McMorris is also the founder of Phase 2 Consulting, where he offers strategic insight and external affairs services to some of the nation's leading decision-makers in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. In 2020, McMorris served as the national co-chair for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. The virtual groundbreaking of the Woodlawn Pointe development featured speakers drawn from the nation's progressive and civil rights movements including 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, Martin Luther King, III, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. and more. The video showcased the development itself and spoke to Greenlining Realty USA's commitment to providing affordable homes in communities of color shaped by the history of housing discrimination. "Greenlining is doing such important work to help reverse the historically damaging and continuing effects of redlining, and to build greater racial and economic equality," said Hon. Pete Buttigieg, former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. "As we often discussed on the campaign trail, and as I will continue to speak out on in the future, tackling issues of systemic racism and correcting the inequities that have existed in this country for far too long is a defining issue for the American project in this century." "Over fifty years ago my father came to Chicago to address the issue of housing: affordable, fair and public housing," said Martin Luther King III, human rights activist and ambassador of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. "I want to compliment Lamell and the team for continuing in the tradition of creating a scenario where the community can truly realize its dream." Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network, added: "To see a student of the King movement, who was once Executive Director of King's organization, come back to where he was born and grew up and help develop Woodlawn, is a day of celebration." Founded in 2016, Greenlining Realty USA is dedicated to reversing the historical, damaging effects of discrimination in lending. A premier comprehensive urban property redevelopment firm, Greenlining Realty creates pathways to capital essential for neighborhood investment, redevelopment, housing rehabilitation and home improvement. To view/download the video of the virtual groundbreaking ceremony, visit https://vimeo.com/431518481. For media inquiries or to speak with Lamell McMorris, please contact Natalie Mathes at [email protected] or 516-509-9928. About Greenlining Realty USA Greenlining Realty USA is a national real estate development and management firm. We work in partnership with local municipalities throughout the country to create mixed use developments with large scale economic impact. Our mission is to work in the community and for the community creating comprehensive developments that revitalize historically under served and distressed communities. At Greenlining Realty USA, by strategically leveraging local resources and other investment opportunities, we measure success by the delivery of tangible quality of life enhancements we bring to the communities and businesses we serve. You can access the Greenlining Realty, USA website at https://greenliningrealtyusa.com/ , and follow the company on Twitter and Facebook . Media Contact: Natalie Mathes The TASC Group Phone: 516-509-9928 [email protected] SOURCE Greenlining Realty USA Related Links https://greenliningrealtyusa.com Bismah Malik By Express News Service Indias apex IT body, Nasscom says H-1B visa ban is misguided and harmful to the US economy. Nasscom said that the new order will only limit the access of the organizations to the talent overseas and will also force more work to be moved offshore since local talent is not available. Nasscom has also sought to shorten the burden of these restrictions to 90 days. Coming on the heels of the problems created by the coronavirus crisis and the USCIS and DOS office closures that have delayed the processing of visas and made it difficult, if not, impossible at times to travel to or from the United States, this new proclamation will prevent our companies and thousands of other organizations from accessing the talent they need from overseas, Nasscom said in a statement. ALSO READ: Suspension of work visas to free up to 5.25 lakh jobs in US, says White House Earlier, trade and industry bodies including Nasscom, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Medical Association, Compete America, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Association of American Universities among others had written to Trump and his Secretaries stating that such policies and his Secretaries that policies such as these undercut the ability to grow and create jobs, inhibit the provision of critical infrastructure services, and add burdensome new regulatory requirements and costs. Lengthening these burdensome restrictions on U.S. companies that are trying to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic will only serve to harm our economy. In this time of Covid-19 crisis and recovery, the Administrations policies that impact American businesses should follow the oath taken by healthcare professionals: first do no harm, the IT body added. ALSO READ: Google CEO Sundar Pichai 'disappointed' by Donald Trump's immigration proclamation to freeze visas Global tech firms like Google, Twitter have also criticized the move by terming it as discriminatory in nature. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai said that he is disappointed by Trumps Modays proclamation. Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by todays proclamation - well continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all, Pichai said in a tweet. Jessica Herrera , VP, Public Policy, Twitter said that this proclamation undermines Americas greatest economic asset: its diversity. People from all over the world come here to join our labor force, pay taxes, and contribute to our global competitiveness on the world stage. Unilaterally and unnecessarily stifling Americas attractiveness to global, high-skilled talent is short-sighted and deeply damaging to the economic strength of the United States, she added in a statement. ALSO READ: US Congressmen urge Donald Trump to revoke temporary suspension of H-1B visas After April 22nds executive order banning immigration into the US temporarily, US President Donald Trump said that banning non-immigrant visas like H-1B and H-2B was pivotal to saving jobs for Americans at a time when unemployment is soaring in the country. Hemant Mohapatra, Partner at Lightspeed ventures, India told this publication that the ban will surely impact the Indian IT industry in short term , however it will also promote the already existent remote work culture adopted by leading tech firms and push more talent towards India. ALSO READ: How will Trump's H-1B visa freeze affect Indian IT industry The impact is going to linger on for next 6-9 months at least and at the same time drive more talent towards home markets especially as visa regimes are only getting stricter.We can expect a more vibrant startup ecosystem in India especially if the compensation structure is at par with what these workers were offered in the US, Mohapatra added. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Yang Xueliang, the spokesman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), denied the rumor exposed by Reuters on June 19 which said Geely Holding plans to become the top shareholder of Chongqing Lifan Holdings Co., Ltd. (Lifan Holdings) and inject fresh capital into the latter. The media, citing three people with knowledge of the matter, disclosed that Geely is set to take over a Chongqing-based automaker plagued by a prolonged sales decrease worsened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo source: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group's WeChat account) Following Geely's denial, Lifan Industry (Group) Co.,Ltd. (Lifan Group), a subsidiary of Lifan Holdings, stated on June 20 that the report is untrue and it has not been in talks with any third party about being acquired or injected with capital. As of now, there is no relevant cooperative intent that has been reached. Lifan Group is facing operational risks brought by sustained profit loss, high debt, substantial downturn in PV sales, heavy debt to be overdue, vast amounts of asset freeze, quite a few lawsuits (arbitrations), weak liquidity of controlling shareholder, and incapability of repaying the capital raised, the company added. Up until now, it has not determined any effective solutions yet. Founded in 1992, the Chongqing-based Lifan Group is mainly engaged in the R&D, production and sale (including export) of automobile, motorcycle, and engine, and takes new energy vehicle business as a strategic development direction. Nevertheless, it is now vexed by severe capital problems and liquidity risks, the company said in the latest announcement. (Photo source: Lifan Motors' WeChat account) According to its annual result, Lifan Group earned 7.45 billion yuan ($1.053 billion) in 2019 revenue, posting a year-on-year plunge of 32.35%, and suffered a net loss of 4.682 billion yuan ($662.031 million), nosediving from the year-ago profit of 252.972 million yuan ($35.77 million). Besides, the annual net cash flow generated by operation activities was -1.13 billion yuan (-$159.893 million). The performance kept waning in the first quarter of 2020 due to the impact of pandemic and the adverse capital condition. During this period, Lifan Group saw its revenue tumble 74.88% from a year earlier to 564.225 million yuan ($79.78 million), and recorded a loss of 197.38 million yuan ($27.909 million). The company said the loss is likely to continue for the second quarter if no apparent improvement occurs, so that the first-half profit might remain negative as well. In a shocking incident, a 42-year-old man killed his estranged wife at their Bengaluru house, then travelled all the way to Kolkata and shot his mother-in-law before ending his own life with a pistol. According to a report in NDTV, Amit Agarwal, a chartered accountant, and his wife Shilpi Dhandhania had a son and were on the verge of taking a divorce. On Monday, Agarwal reached his wifes maternal house in Kolkatas Phoolbagan area and had a heated argument with his in-laws during which he fished out a gun and shot at his mother-in-law. Shocked by Agarwals sudden move, his father-in-law, ran out of the apartment and asked his neighbour for help. Police were called in immediately and the officials found both the mother-in-law and Agarwal lying dead in a pool of blood. Agarwals suicide note recovered from the spot said he had murdered his wife in their Bengaluru home before travelling to Kolkata to carry out the second killing. The police have refrained from divulging any information about the couples son but said that he is safe. This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) Mel Gibson has disputed Winona Ryders allegations that he made homophobic and anti-semitic statements at a party they both attended. The actors representative Alan Nierob disputed Ryders account in a statement to The Independent. This is 100 per cent untrue, Mr Nierob said. She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and shes lying about it now. Also, she lied about him trying to apologise to her back then. He did reach out to her, many years ago, to confront her about her lies and she refused to address it with him. Ryder recounted the alleged remarks as such in a recent interview with The Sunday Times: We were at a crowded party with one of my good friends, and Mel Gibson was smoking a cigar, and were all talking and he said to my friend, whos gay, Oh wait, am I gonna get Aids? And then something came up about Jews, and he said, Youre not an oven dodger, are you? Ryder told the newspaper that Gibson tried to apologise later on. The actor previously made similar claims in a 2010 interview with GQ, telling the magazine Gibson made a really horrible gay joke and said something about oven dodgers at a Hollywood party. Gibson hurled anti-semitic statements during a 2006 arrest on suspicion of drunk driving, according to a sheriffs report shared at the time by TMZ. The actor apologised for the despicable remarks in a statement to The New York Times. The Independent has approached Ryders team for comment. Americans may be overestimating their risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, a controversial new study from California suggests. Researchers found that, on average, a person who has a single contact with an infected individual has a one in about 4,000 chance of becoming sick, without using preventive measures such as social distancing or wearing a mask. For the middle-aged, the risk of hospitalization is nearly one in a million and the risk of death is almost one in 20 million. The team, from Stanford University and the University of California Los Angeles, says action from local and state governments, attention from the media, and the lack of feeling in control may be influencing the public's perception of risk. In a new study, researchers calculated that someone who has a single contact with an infected person has a one in 3,836 chance of getting sick themselves (above) For Americans between ages 50 to 64, the risk of being hospitalized is one in 852,000 and the risk of dying is one in 19.1 million (above, fatality risk) The team says action from governments, media attention, and the lack of feeling in control may be influencing the perception of risk. Pictured: Clinicians care for a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California, May 6 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the virus can easily transmit between people, most commonly through infected droplets from coughs or sneezes. However, the federal health agency has never issued a hard number for the general public's infection risk. Dr Rajiv Bhatia, a clinical assistant professor of primary care and population health at Stanford, told DailyMail.com that there are several articles about data on cases and death, but not risk. 'The data that we've been seeing in the media is really a reflection what's going on at a societal level, the global level, the state level,' he said. 'We get these really large counts of deaths, and very large counts of cases, and they all seem to be growing, but what does that matter to me is not really answered by those questions.' For the study, published on pre-print site medRxiv,org, the team looked at case incidence data for the week ending May 30 in the 100 most populous US counties. Next, they calculated the probability of contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, from someone who doesn't know they have it, including a household member. Results showed that, in these middle to large counties, the risk of infection is one per 3,836. What's more, this is when a person doesn't practice social distance, doesn't wear a mask and doesn't have good hand hygiene. For a person between ages 50 and 64, the odds of being hospitalized with the virus after having a single contact is one in 852,000. The risk of fatality is even smaller. with people the same age having a one in 19.1 million chance of dying from COVID-19, based on rates seen in the final week of May. 'In one way I was surprised and in one way I was not,' Bhatia said. 'Even at [the pandemic's] peak, except for very few places, the severe events were pretty rare events. 'The perception given all of the data and the images and the emergencies, the war metaphors, the uncertainty, the lack of control, these were all factors that I think elevated the perception of risk. Researchers not involved in the study, such as Dr A. Marm Kilpatrick, an assistant professor and infectious disease researcher at UC Santa Cruz, told The Mercury News the paper's conclusions are 'badly flawed.' For one, the study put every individual at the same risk despite previous evidence showing that where you live or where you work can increase or decrease your risk. Additionally, the team did not factor for underlying health conditions that increase risk including obesity, diabetes and hypertension Bhatia argues, however, that this was the risk where it stood in late May and would increase if cases spike across the country. 'Everybody doesn't have the same risk. The risk for most people is small,' he said. 'More public release of data about the cases - risk exposure factors - would allow everybody to have a better sense of their actual risks and to focus public heath efforts on where the harm is the greatest.' Jameel House Art Jameel has launched Jameel House Online, a programme of free online workshops inspired by the traditional arts. Intended for artists and enthusiasts of all levels, including children, the workshops have been adapted to contemporary materials and tools available around the home. The sessions are delivered by local artists and craftspeople, including alumni from the Jameel Houses of Traditional Arts, Art Jameels network of heritage institutions in Jeddah and Cairo, and are available on Art Jameels website and social media platforms.Sessions include painting the Flower of Life design with coffee, making home decorations with geometric stars, both led by Rana Alamoudi; making traditional kites at home, led by The Aleph Journal; crocheting an eight-pointed star using waste plastic bags, led by Kees Chic; traditional paper-making by hand using scrap card and paper, led by Ammar Jiman; and ornamental drawing with Islamic geometry, led byMarwa Turkestani. For more information visit artjameel.organd join the conversation on Instagram @art_jameel, @jhtajeddah, @jhtacairo, @ateliercairo| Facebook Art Jameel, Jameel House in Cairo, Atelier Cairo Art Jameel| Twitter @art_jameel Al-Kahila 15 Al Batal Ahmed Abdel-Aziz St, Mohandiseen, Tel 02 3304 0791/ 0122 8647511 Metal artworksbyAmmar Shiha (Daily from 11am till 5pm). The Italian Cultural Institute June isthe best month to get to know Italy and its culture, every day the Institutes public can follow virtual tours of museums, in-depth information on Italian gastronomy or virtually visit the artistic and natural beauties of the Bel Paese. Three major events begun on 15 June have animated the cultural programming of this month: the launch of the week Making Cinema Fare Cinema. It is the thematic review dedicated to the promotion of the Italian cinema and film industry promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, the Italian Institute in Cairo has decided to make available to its public a digital version of the exhibition on Mimmo Cattarinich and the stars of Italian cinema. Cattarinich stands out as the master who left the richest photographic documentation of the Golden Age of Italian cinema. From her endless archive, the curatorDominique Lorahas drawn a splendid selection that the Italian Institute of Cairo will make available on a virtual tour. The intent is to make known to the Egyptian public, thanks to this new digital version, a way of photographing cinema and its protagonists. To make the virtual exhibition as accessible to the public, the event will be accompanied daily by the publication of two high-resolution photos on the social channels of this Institute: precious portraits of the great protagonists of Italian cinema such as Federico Fellini, Marcello Mastroianni, Pier Paolo Pasoliniand many others. Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art 10 and 15 Mahmoud Bassiouny St, Downtown, Tel 02 25784494 Dawestashy: A Focus on the Early Work art show byEsmat Dewestashyis reflecting on his accomplishments (30 May - 10 June). Serendipity byIbrahim El-Haddad (13 June - 30 July). P.S: Because of the curfew, the gallerys open hours have slightly been modified: Daily except Friday from 11am to 6pm. TAM.Gallery TAM.Gallery has launched its fourth consecutive edition of the Summer Affordable Art Show, featuring over 150 of your favourite Egyptian contemporary artists. You can visit the gallery to see the exhibition in person during its regular working hours (Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 3:30pm). The show will be running all summer, with new art being added periodically. UBUNTU 20 Hassan Sabry St, (entrance from Ibn Zinki St), Zamalek, Tel 0100 2792223 The gallery continued its efforts to support Cairos contemporary art scene bringing together a selection of Cairos top galleries under the theme Till We Meet Again. This is UBUNTUs way to make visible the outstanding artworks from its collections as some doors remain temporarily closed. Till We Meet Again is a collaborative virtual exhibition byArt Talks, Misrgallery, Nile gallery, Picasso gallery, Tintera, Ubuntu gallery and Zamalek gallery, the works are available at the galleries websites. *A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Exporters will now have to present only digital copies of shipping bills bearing final let export order and gatepass to customs authorities as the CBIC has launched paperless documentation of exports, a move aimed at saving time and cost of compliance for trade. In a circular, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said in its continuing endeavour to promote 'faceless, contactless, paperless customs' it has decided to rely upon digital copies of the shipping bill and do away with the requirement of taking bulky printouts from the service centre or maintenance of voluminous physical dockets in the custom houses. "Board directs that w.e.f. June 22, 2020, only the digital copy of the shipping bill bearing the final LEO (let export order) would be electronically transmitted to the exporter and the present practice of printing copies of the said document for the exporters and also for maintaining a docket in the customs house would stand discontinued," the CBIC said. The launch of paperless documentation on exports is a sequel to a similar initiative that was begun for imports from April 15, 2020. Under this, a secure QR coded shipping bill would be electronically sent to exporters after the customs allows export, the CBIC said to all principal chief commissioners of customs and central tax. "This eliminates in one stroke the requirement of the exporters having to approach the customs officers for proof of export. This also makes the end to end customs export process fully electronic, from the filing of the shipping bill to the final order to allow export," the finance ministry said in a statement. The CBIC circular said this reform will yield immense benefits in terms of saving the time and cost of compliance for the trade, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business, while providing enhanced security features for verification of authenticity and validity of the electronic document. Currently, the shipping bill is being printed in duplicate, namely customs copy and exporter copy. Further, it is ascertained that, the export promotion copy is also being printed in many instances, based on the request of the exporters. This necessitates the exporter/customs broker to take physical printouts in the service centre and present it to the customs officer. In many locations, physical signing of the printouts is also insisted upon. "To promote a paperless environment, the board has decided to do away with the taking the printouts. Instead, Directorate General of Systems has enabled a functionality of communicating by email, the PDF version of the final LEO copy of the shipping bill to the customs broker and exporter, if registered. This electronic final LEO copy can serve multiple purposes such as being shared with DGFT, Banks etc," the CBIC said. The CBIC further said that for the purposes of exports, all the supporting documents would have to be mandatorily uploaded in eSanchit and collection of physical dockets shall be dispensed with. "It is possible that there may be scenarios other than those mentioned above, where printouts of shipping bills are required. Board desires that such scenarios shall be immediately informed. The respective principal commissioners/ commissioners of customs would take a decision on allowing printouts only in such exceptional situations," it added. In its efforts to enter top 50 rank in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking, the CBIC had last year announced reform measure Turant Customs for speedy clearance of goods at air and sea ports. The Turant Customs is a comprehensive package which is being implemented in a phased manner. Towards that, the customs department plans to roll out pan-India faceless assessment by December 31 in a phased manner, and has already started the same phased manner beginning with Chennai and Bengaluru ports from June 8. Faceless assessment (commonly known as anonymised or virtual assessment) enables and assessing officer, who is physically located in a particular jurisdiction, to assess a bill of entry pertaining to imports made at a different Customs station, whenever such a bill of entry has been assigned to him in the Customs automated system. - A memo by the department revealed the testing began at the evaluation department with the land administration and registration departments set to follow on Wednesday, June 24 - On Thursday, June 25, employees at the physical planning, legal unit, procurement, finance and administration sections would be tested to determine their status - On Tuesday, June 23, the country recorded 155 new cases of the respiratory disease raising the national tally to 4,952 infections, 48 shy of the 5,000 mark All staff at the Ministry of Lands have been ordered to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing after an employee at Ardhi House tested positive for the virus. This came as Kenya continued to record an increase in the number of coronavirus cases across the country. READ ALSO: Waiguru impeachment: Photo of governor scrolling her phone during Senate hearing sparks hilarious reactions Ardhi House, Nairobi. One staff at the ministry has tested positive for COVID-19. Photo: Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Joshua Waiganjo wants Johnson Kavuludi to apologise for causing him 7 years of anguish The Ministry of Health began a mass testing exercise on Tuesday, June 23, at the government agency as the infected officer was suspected to have come into contact with several others. A memo by the department revealed the testing began at the evaluation department with the land administration and registration departments set to follow on Wednesday, June 24. On Tuesday, June 23, the country recorded 155 new cases of the respiratory disease raising the national tally to 4,952 infections, 48 shy of the 5,000 mark. Photo: CDC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Aliyedaiwa kuwa mpenzi wa Adan Duale, Nazlin Umar afurahia kung'olewa kwake On Thursday, June 25, employees at the physical planning, legal unit, procurement, finance and administration sections would be tested to determine their status to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease. The tests would be done at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), HIV lab. On Tuesday, June 23, the country recorded 155 new cases of the respiratory disease raising the national tally to 4,952 infections, 48 shy of the 5,000 mark. Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi (second left) said containment measures have resulted in low infection rate in Kenya compared to other countries. Photo: TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original READ ALSO: 13-year-old boy who confronted regional commissioner George Natembeya crowned Narok peace ambassador The new cases were distributed in Nairobi (104), Busia (nine), Migori (10), Uasin Gishu (four), Kiambu (three), Machakos and Nakuru (two each) while Kisumu and Kajiado had one each. All the positive cases involved Kenyans, 120 being males and 35 females. The youngest was one-year-old and the oldest 77 years. Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi said 104 more patients had been discharged from various hospitals bringing the tally of recoveries to 1,782. "We have lost three more patients to the disease, bringing the total number of those who have succumbed to 128. To us, every death is a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends that have lost loved ones," the CAS 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. My mother did not want me, I was called a man eater - Antony Wanjiru | My Story | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Co-President of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Head of the European Parliament Delegation Andrius Kubilius and Head of the Armenian Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Gayane Abrahamyan have made a joint statement referring to EU assistance to Armenia to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis, to protect democracy, to support the judiciary reforms and other spheres. The statement notes that the European Union (EU) is a key reform partner and the authors welcome Armenias commitment to implement reforms in the judiciary and the police while addressing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. We appreciate the progress made by Armenia in the area of justice reform. We welcome the European Unions strong commitment to help Armenia develop the highest standards of judicial system. The Heads of the Delegations stressed that successful implementation of the comprehensive reforms by Armenia, in areas such as rule of law, justice and the fight against corruption, will create new incentives for an ambitious path towards European integration and the next steps to be taken by Armenia and for further cooperation. In regard to the crisis created due to COVID-19, the counterparts noted that the European Union, being the largest donor and partner in Armenia, stands together with Armenia in a moment of crisis with strong solidarity and international cooperation. Hence, the EU has increased its annual average assistance from EUR 40,000,000 to EUR 65,000,000 million, as well as the EU is committed to provide over EUR 92,000,000 in grants for bilateral support. The Rapid Response Mechanism has already ensured distribution of humanitarian aid packages to over 3,000 vulnerable households, in Shirak, Tavush and Lori regions. Additionally, over 350 school-age children will gain access to distance learning tools ensuring equal access to educational activities organized by their schools. Andrius Kubilius and Gayane Abrahamyan noted that the cooperation based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union is growing into an enhanced and strategically reinforced partnership between Armenia and the European Union. Stressing the effective implementation of the Armenia-EU Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, the Heads of the Delegations expressed hope that the launch of the Visa Liberalization Dialogue (VLD) shall be the next milestone to closer cooperation and increased mobility in the near future. KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Two people were injured following a high-speed Kansas City police chase and crash Monday afternoon. The chase ended shortly after 1:45 p.m. on southbound Interstate 435 just past Blue Parkway. Police were chasing a black colored Yukon SUV when it rolled over and one person was ejected from the vehicle. Diversity stars Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely will take over as the hosts of Kiss Breakfast. Current presenter Daisy Maskell will move to sister station Kiss Fresh where she will take over the Breakfast Show, while her co-host Tom Green is leaving the station. Banjo and Kiely met in 2007 and shot to fame as part of dance troupe Diversity after winning the third series of Britains Got Talent in 2009, beating Susan Boyle in the live final. Expand Close Daisy Maskell is moving to Kiss Fresh (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Daisy Maskell is moving to Kiss Fresh (Ian West/PA) They joined weekends on Kiss in 2019. They said: This is major!! The minute we stepped into Kiss last year, it felt like coming home. We grew up listening to the station, vibing off the playlist and we feel it just gets us. We couldnt be any more gassed to get to host the breakfast show in an exciting new era for Kiss. Rebecca Frank, content director for the Kiss Network, said: Jordan and Perri have the sort of authentic chemistry that only two best mates can create. Bringing their positive, energetic spirit to everything they do, together they concoct the perfect formula for breakfast radio and we cant wait for our Kiss audience to hear them in action every morning. Video of the Day Kiss Breakfast with Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely will launch on August 3. By PTI MOSCOW: The relations between India and Russia are one of "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" and the ongoing military contracts between the two sides will be maintained and in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. Singh, who arrived here on a three-day visit on Tuesday at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade, said his visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation after the COVID pandemic. "This is a sign of our special friendship. Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels," Singh said while addressing the media here. ALSO READ | Victory Day parade: Rajnath Singh pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in Moscow "India-Russia relations are one of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Our defence relationship is one of its important pillars," he said. The minister reviewed bilateral defence relationship with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov who visited him in his hotel, despite the restrictions of the pandemic. "My discussions were very positive and productive. I have been assured that ongoing contracts will be maintained and not just maintained, in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time. All our proposals have received positive responses from the Russian side. "I am fully satisfied with my discussions," Singh said, indicating the timely delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems to India. In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions. Last year, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems. Moscow was to begin the delivery of the system by the second half of next year. Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition. However, it has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time affecting maintenance of military systems procured from that country. "I can say with confidence that the traditional friendship between India and Russia remains strong. Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship," Singh said. Meanwhile, the Chinese media on Tuesday speculated that Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe "will very likely meet" his Indian counterpart Singh in Moscow over border tensions between the two countries. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed to the Global Times that since Wei and Singh are attending the Russian military parade in Moscow on Wednesday, the two leaders may meet. However, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said that Singh will not meet his Chinese counterpart in Moscow. Singh's visit to Russia comes in the midst of the escalating border standoff between India and China, particularly after the killing of 20 Indian Army personnel by Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15. Russia has been in touch with both India and China following their border row and officials did not rule out discussion on the matter during Singh's meetings in Moscow. Singh said he was looking forward to participating in the 75th Victory Parade wherein an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square on Wednesday. "It is a great honor. This is a sign of everlasting friendship between the armed forces of both our countries," the minister said. "I convey my greetings to the friendly people of Russia, especially the veterans, who have contributed so much to our common security," Singh said as he paid tribute to the sacrifice of the Russian people for victory in the Second World War. He said Indian soldiers participated in the war effort in the millions and suffered immense casualties. "Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army," he added. Singh also said that he was looking forward to the visit of President Vladimir Putin to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year. For drivers in the Ontario, CA area that are searching for a great deal on a used vehicle, John Elways Crown Toyota is offering a ton of models to choose from! For drivers in the Ontario, CA area that are searching for a great deal on a used vehicle, John Elways Crown Toyota is offering a ton of models to choose from! These models include a wide range of excellent sedans and SUVs, several of which well be exploring here today! Continue reading below in order to see examples of these models and all that they offer drivers to enjoy! One example of these great models is a 2018 Toyota Prius C One, an exceptional model that pushes out a ton of great innovation and performance benefits. These features range from its great engine option, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-Cycle VVT-I system, to an amazing CVT transmission system. This model also has a full 7 year and 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 160-point inspection and reconditioning, and more. Its priced at $16,989, making it a good, cheap, model for those that want more. Another exceptional pick for drivers on the market is a 2018 Toyota RAV4 LE, an exceptional SUV model that pushes out a ton of overall power! These benefits include a great four-cylinder engine as well as a 6-speed automatic transmission system. The combination of these systems put together allows you to enjoy a total fuel economy of 23 MPG horsepower in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. This makes the 2020 Toyota RAV4 LE an exceptional model for those that want performance and efficiency. These are just two of the many great models found in John Elways Crown Toyotas certified used vehicle special list! Drivers that are interested in these models, and others found at the dealership, are encouraged to contact the dealership today! They can be reached at 909-515-8401, visited in person at 1201 Kettering Drive in Ontario, CA, or visited online at https://www.crowntoyota.com/. Last week Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said on MSNBC that she has told presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden she does not want to be considered as a potential running mate. Klobuchars past as an aggressive prosecutor in Minneapolis would have made her a controversial choice for the role in the wake of George Floyds killing, and her comments on MSNBC alluded obliquely to that political reality: After what Ive seen in my state, what Ive seen across the country, this is a historic moment, and America must seize on this moment. I truly believe, as I actually told the vice president last night when I called him, that I think this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket. There are so many incredibly qualified women, but if you want to heal this nation right now, my party, yes, but our nation, this is sure a hell of a way to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klobuchar is not the only politician who has reacted to nationwide Black Lives Matter protests by suggesting that Biden (who has previously said he wants a woman to be his VP nominee) should choose a nonwhite running mate. Her belief that doing so would heal this nation, though, suggests that she has not given much attention to the protests substance. Protesters demands vary city by city, but they share a few themes. Most directly, marchers have called for the prosecution of the police officers who killed Floyd in Minneapolis; Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky; and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, and for action against officers whove become violent during otherwise peaceful protests. At the level of policy, there are pushes for police departments to be dissolved and/or for large parts of their funding to be diverted to social services. Activists, legislators, and writers have also raised the connections between Floyds death and other manifestations of systemic racism issues like school segregation, housing segregation, and economic inequalitythat have gone unaddressed, or have been addressed inadequately, for decades. Protesters have fought for the removal of statues and monuments that celebrate soldiers and political officials from the Confederacy; within workplaces, Black employees have pressured executives to diversify predominately white management levels. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the progressive polling group Data for Progress released the results of a survey about Bidens potential running mates. Among nonwhite voters under the age of 45, the most popular potential pick was Elizabeth Warren, who is known for a wide-ranging system of proposals intended to attack the concentration of wealth and economic opportunities among (predominately white) members of the existing upper class. The other top two choices were California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Georgia state House of Representatives minority leader Stacey Abrams, who became nationally known for her underdog 2018 gubernatorial campaign and her corresponding work to reverse the national trend toward the disenfranchisement of nonwhite voters.* As Perry Bacon writes in FiveThirtyEight Tuesday, Warrens prominence alongside Harris and Abrams in that poll, and others which show similar results, indicates that nonwhite votersparticularly the younger and more progressive ones who are more likely to be participating in protestsare considering potential veep nominees worldviews in addition to their identities. But it should also be noted that none of the potential VP choices, Warren included, had the support of more than a third of respondents. There is no Black Lives Matter groundswell behind any particular candidate. Members of the movement have articulated many goals, but none of them have said their concerns begin and end with the Democratic Partys vice presidential nominating process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Confederate statue question demonstrates, many protesters are concerned, deeply and to the point of putting their own safety at risk, with matters of symbolic representation. But one only needs to read the news to know that they arent only asking to be symbolically acknowledged. They are asking for the symbols and the substance of their country to be transformed in order to rectify injustices created by racism. In short, they are asking Democratic politicians not to casually reveal a belief that one gesture of inclusion would be adequate to heal the United States. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. Paulinho Paiakan was working for the Brazilian government helping surveyors plot the route of the Trans-Amazon Highway through sometimes hostile Indigenous territory. Then the bulldozers and paving machines arrived and he understood the destruction they would bring. He quit his job to become one of the rainforests staunchest and best-known defenders. As an example of an early exploit, Mr. Paiakan in the 1970s organized hundreds of elaborately painted and feathered warriors to face down wildcat miners and loggers intent on invading the lands of his Kayapo people, who live in the Amazon states of Para and Mato Grosso. He was instrumental in establishing his tribes 11-million-acre reservation, where some 9,000 Kayapo continue their traditional way of life with only minor concessions to the modern world. Mr. Paiakan later helped convince the government to shelve plans for a hydroelectric dam in the region. He also took part in a successful effort to introduce protections for Indigenous people into Brazils 1988 Constitution, which remain some of the worlds strongest. During the Manipur state election campaign of 2017, reigning three-time chief minister O Ibobi Singh was asked by this reporter what his chances were of retaining the chair as, just months earlier, another three-time Congress CM, Tarun Gogoi, was shown the door after a 15-year rule in Assam. "This is not Assam or Arunachal," Singh replied. "This is Manipur, and I will be back." When the results came out, the Congress had won 28 seats in a 60-member house, but could not muster the support of three more MLAs needed to form the government. Instead, the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was formed in the state under the leadership of N Biren Singh. Three years later, Ibobi Singh yet again finds himself within the touching distance of the chair, but this time he hardly had any role to play in it. With nine MLAs withdrawing their support from the government, the internal feud which was going on in the Manipurs ruling coalition is out in the open. This revolt has three key players: the chief minister, his deputy Y Joykumar Singh, who is an MLA from the National Peoples Party (NPP) and a former director general of police, and Th Biswajit Singh, senior BJP leader. Biswajit and Biren Singh have been at loggerheads from the very beginning. The MLA had even led a number of delegations to the party high command, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, asking for Biren Singh to be replaced to save the government in the state. He had blamed the chief ministers high-handedness and autocratic style of functioning for the fallout. The root of this problem precedes the 2017 assembly elections. When K Joykisan Singh, the first BJP MLA in Manipur, defected to the Congress, many assumed Biswajit was the de-facto choice as the face of the party. But then the BJP decided to bring in a former senior minister of the Ibobi government, N Biren Singh. That put paid to Biswajits hopes of bagging the chief ministers chair. While the feud of the three bigwigs has been on since 2017, it reached a tipping point last year when the CM stripped these two men of their key portfolios. It took the North-East Democratic Alliance and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarmas repeated visits to the state to calm the fragile egos. The revolt was nipped and the government lived to see another day. The issue shot up again in April this year, when Joykumar was stripped of his portfolios again. This time it was because he called the chief ministers food security assurance a hogwash and claimed that rice allocated to his constituency was just not enough. Around this time, government spokesperson and BJP legislator S Rajen dared Joykumar and his three other MLAs to quit the government if they were unhappy with CM Biren SIngh. The calculation was that in the 59-member assembly, the BJP and allies had 37 members, and if four NPP members withdrew, the government would still be in majority. April being the lockdown month, the BJP could not rush senior party leaders to the state. The chief troubleshooter, Himanta Biswa Sarma, being the health minister of Assam, was also busy fighting the Covid-19 menace in the state. And that turned out to be calamitous for Biren Singh. Not only did the four members of NPP quit the government, three BJP MLAs resigned, too, to join the Congress, and the two other MLAs from Trinamool Congress and Independents withdrew support from the party as well. Now the number 37 got reduced to 28. The party had to fly in Biswa Sarma , who came with the NPP national head and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma. They flew in and out on the same day, but helped the party win the Rajya Sabha elections. This victory, however, had more to do with a favourable court order and a cooperative Speaker. There still remains a huge question mark on the survival of the government. However, after visiting Manipur, Biswa Sarma told the media in Guwahati that the government would be safe and that the architecture will be a bit different but more or less, we are continuing with the principle of friendship and the spirit of NEDA and NDA, hinting at a possibility of a change in chief minister to save the government. Some of the NPP MLAs had also hinted at possible support to the BJP if the CM is changed. The Congress, on the other hand, is planning to take the legal recourse. The loss of the Rajya Sabha election was a big setback, but the party has not given up hope of forming the government. It is angry at how three of their seven turncoat MLAs facing disqualification were allowed to vote while the rest were disqualified. Reacting to the turn of events, Ibobi Singh said, When all the MLAs are in the same case for the same reason, how could the Speaker disqualify only four? It is a very shameful act. What happens next in the Manipur thriller is getting difficult to predict, but if this government falls, it would surely be the first government to fall to the coronavirus, or at least the lockdown necessitated by it, which prevented the central leadership of the BJP from taking action in time. The first Japanese language studies and culture research faculty in the central and Central Highlands region has been set up at the Da Nang-based Dong A College, providing human resource education and co-operation between Vietnam and Japan. Head of Japanese language studies and culture research faculty Ngo Quang Vinh (left) receives the establishment decision from Dong A College in Da Nang City. VNS Photo Phuong Chi Dr. Ngo Quang Vinh, vice rector of the college and head of the faculty, said the establishment of the faculty would improve conditions for young students in the region to test their skills and language before working in Japan. He said it would supply manpower for Japanese businesses in Vietnam expanding production in the near future. At least 2,000 students at the college have been studying Japanese at the college. Japanese businesses investing in Vietnam and partners provided 10 scholarships worth VND800 million (US$34,700) for the best students studying in Japan in 2020. Japanese partners have provided an annual VND12 billion ($521,000) scholarships for students at the college since 2019. At least six cities in Japan and 72 businesses inked agreements on recruitment of students from the college and the region working and studying in Japan, creating 6,000 jobs each year. Last week, the college signed a strategic co-operation agreement on human resources training in information technology with FPT Software Da Nang Company. Representative of the Japan External Trade Orgnisation Hanoi Office (JETRO Hanoi), Yohei Arai, said 70 per cent of Japanese enterprises who had invested in Vietnam planned to expand their production. He said Da Nang would be a potential destination for IT and industrial production for Japanese companies in the coming years. The college and Japanese partners last week also agreed to set up the first Japanese language testing system (J-TEST) and a foreign language examination centre to organise Japanese language examinations for the region. Dong A College is the only education centre in central Vietnam providing human resources for the Japanese labour market. VNS Japanese expat falls for Vietnamese literature Many foreigners profiled in this column consider Vietnam their second home because they have fallen for the landscape or the locals hospitality, but Kawarai Yushi, a Japanese expat based in Thua Thien Hue, has fallen for Vietnamese literature. New Rare Earth Projects Help Australia Decouple From China Supply Reliance In the past week, two Australian rare earth mining firms have advanced key projects that mark progress toward that nations goal of decoupling its rare earth supply chains from Chinese control. In November last year, the Australian government signaled its intent to firm up the security of both nations by signing an agreement with the United States to begin exchanging information on critical minerals and establishing supply chains. Since then a flurry of new projects has started or been fast-tracked by the government. This comes against the backdrop of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) estimated control of almost 63 percent of global rare earth production. Rare earth minerals are integral to the manufacture of high-tech products including fiber-optic cables, magnets, lithium batteries, and military equipment. Concerns have been mounting that the CCP will leverage its control of rare earths in the event of a geopolitical dispute. Hastings Project: From Mines to Magnets On June 17, Perth-based Hastings Technology Metals received government approval for the construction of its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in Western Australia (WA), subject to satisfying environmental conditions. The plant will process the rare earth minerals neodymium and praseodymium. Both minerals are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets used in wind turbines, robotics, and electric vehicles. Wind turbines are viewed at a wind farm in Taft, Texas, on March 27, 2015. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The extraction and processing of rare earth is a complex and costly process that can result in large amounts of excess polluting chemicals. In China, authorities have in the past been able to leverage the countrys loose environmental and pollution controls, to lower the cost of their minerals and compete with western firms. The cost to local Chinese towns however has been devastating, with excess pollution, damaged agricultural land, and serious health concerns in neighboring towns. The regulatory standards set by the WA government also provide the international community assurance that the extraction component of the rare earths supply chain is undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner, Andrew Reid, chief operating officer of Hastings in WA said in a statement. Hastings aims to be the next significant producer of the minerals outside of China. In 2017, China controlled 80 percent of neodymium production globally. Hastings will be a major provider to international German automotive equipment supplier Schaeffler Technologies AG for the next 10 years. Infinity Lithium: Riding the Euro Electric Car Wave Perth-based Infinity Lithium Corp. will receive funding for its Spain-based lithium mining project, San Jose Lithium. This will be the first lithium project to secure funding from the European Union-backed (EU) investment body EIT InnoEnergy, according to a June 18 announcement. The funding will come in three separate tranches for different phases of the project. Infinity is hoping to capitalize on the European Unions push to develop its electric car industry and push to establish a strategic value chain for lithium. A man prepares to drive a Totem-Mobi electric car-sharing vehicle parked at a charging station in Marseille, France, on March 6, 2018. (Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissie//File Photo) Lithium is critical for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries that go into many electric vehicle brands, including Tesla and BMW. Read More West Australian Mining Fuels Tesla and BMWs Electric China Ambitions The EU is the second-largest market for the mineral globally after China. However, the EU currently imports all its lithium, with no supply chains within the union. Maros Sefcovic, vice president of the European Investment Bank said in the announcement that the EU will create a dedicated alliance aimed at critical raw materials including lithium. Europe will need 18 times more lithium by 2030 compared to its current supply. In late April, a Chinese firm looking to invest in Australian lithium miner AVZ Minerals was advised by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) its bid would be blocked on the grounds it was contrary to the national interest and contrary to the growth of Australias critical minerals sector. The Chinese firm and AVZ later revamped the agreement to avoid scrutiny from FIRB. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Egyptian drugmaker Eva Pharma said it has begun manufacturing antiviral treatment Avipiravir, which has proved effective in treating COVID-19 patients in Russia amid ongoing trials of the same drug in Japan and other countries. The company has begun producing the drug at its factories in Egypt after conducting necessary manufacturing trials, Riad Armanious, CEO of Eva Pharma, said in a statement sent to Ahram Online late on Monday. The company is coordinating with relevant Egyptian authorities to make the drug available for treating the highly contagious virus in the coming period, he added. The Egyptian drug would contain the same active substance of Favipiravir, an oral antiviral drug originally approved for the treatment of influenza in Japan. It is currently being tested to treat COVID-19 under different brand names in Japan, Italy and the UK. Armanious said Eva Pharma aims to meet local demand of the drug, as well as export it to a number of countries in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. The medicine, which will be available in tablets, will be priced at around EGP 4,500 or less per treatment course, said Amgad Talaat, Eva Pharmas General Manager. Russia started earlier this month using the drug, known there as Avifavir -- its first treatment approved to treat COVID-19 patients -- after clinical trials had shown it successfully treated the virus in most cases within a few days. It said it was planning to deliver as many as 60,000 courses to hospitals in June. Monday's announcement by Eva Pharma comes nearly a week after the pharmaceutical company reached a landmark deal with Gilead Sciences Inc to become a licensed manufacturer of the US company's antiviral treatment remdesivir for COVID-19 in 127 countries. Remdesivir, originally developed to treat Ebola, appears to shorten the recovery time of COVID-19 patients. The experimental drug has recently been authorised for the treatment of certain hospitalised patients in a number of countries including the US, the UK and Japan. The Egyptian drug manufacturer is waiting for registration approval by Egypts health authorities this week, after which the medicine will be ready for sale, a source at the company told Ahram Online earlier. No vaccine for COVID-19 has yet been developed, and many countries are conducting human trials of several existing antiviral drugs to prove their efficacy. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati on Tuesday said the developments at a state-run shelter home in Kanpur have once again showed the "indifferent attitude" of the Uttar Pradesh government towards protection of women as she demanded a fair probe and action against errant officials. Fifty-seven girls living in the shelter home were tested positive for the coronavirus over the last week. Five of the girls were found to be pregnant. ALSO READ | 57 girls at children's shelter home test COVID-19 positive in UP's Kanpur, 5 of them pregnant Referring to the "worrisome" developments, she said on Twitter, "This again proves that the UP government is indifferent, careless and irresponsible in protecting women, leave alone respecting them." "It is the demand of the BSP that the UP government should not cover up the incident of Kanpur shelter home but take strict action against the culprits by conducting a high-level and fair investigation. Also it is better if proper humanitarian reforms are brought in the system of all such protection homes," she added. In the diocese of Achonry at a Sunday afternoon funeral, a police chief stands to address the congregation. He honours the name of Colm Horkan, a Garda detective who was shot with his own gun last week in Castlerea in Co Roscommon. Drew Harris told the congregation that detective Horkan was a good and decent police officer who took his work seriously. The first attribute that he listed in his praise of the man was "approachable". And he praised him for being part of two communities, policing and the GAA. Harris looked genuinely stricken, perhaps thinking there about something some in the congregation would not have known: that his own father, a policeman too, was murdered when Drew was in his early 20s. Alwyn Harris, a chief superintendent, had been described by Father Denis Faul as just the kind of police officer we needed - fair, decent and professional. Faul was a scathing critic of police and Army excesses and the police did not expect compliments from him. The Provisional IRA murdered Alwyn Harris when he was travelling to church while on sick leave with a heart condition (I take these details from Lost Lives). Republicans regarded him as a 'combatant' and would apply the same term to the sneak who attached the bomb to the car and was perhaps safe in his bed before it went off. It applies to neither of them. Policing isn't warfare and killing by booby-trap isn't a trial of strength. Drew Harris had been a policeman himself for six years when his father was killed. The bomb under the car also injured his mother, though not seriously. The RUC is routinely vilified in social media and propaganda as an evil that this society suffered. Denis Faul, who knew about bad cops, knew also that there were good ones. What Drew Harris conveyed in his praise for Colm Horkan was a deep sense that policing is a vocation. There are people who want to be police officers from the same kind of motivation that makes someone else want to be a nurse or a teacher. He said also that he wanted the family to know that An Garda Siochana, the force he leads, will continue to be available to them as a support. At the end of the Mass there was the ritual folding of the Irish flag over the coffin. Harris then presented the tricolour to Horkan's father. To take this a bit out of context, for this has nothing to do with what the mourners were concerned with, Harris's language and gestures have meaning in Northern Ireland and in relation to the divisions here. They seriously complicate the simple story of sectarian division and the story of the police as a dark force. They have the potential to change thinking. I have no idea what Harris's religious beliefs are. He did not say anything prayerful in his eulogy. But he comes out of a northern British culture and a policing tradition primarily concerned for much of his life with surviving and curtailing paramilitaries. Three-dozen more police officers were murdered after the day Alwyn Harris was killed before the end of the Troubles. An Garda Siochana, of course, was never the enemy of the RUC, though there were some members who colluded with the IRA and there were times also when the British Government believed that the Republic was dilatory in its efforts to counter IRA violence. The flag that Harris presented to the father of Colm Horkan is one that was adopted as a badge of the republican cause. It would hardly be surprising if someone whose father was killed by the IRA would wince a little at the sight of it. He will have seen it often enough waving from lampposts in republican areas where it was not safe for the RUC to patrol. I grew up with ambiguous feelings about the police myself. Perhaps most people do because everybody stretches the law a little and is therefore wary of them. When you see the police coming to your door you expect to hear bad news. Some of my neighbours as a child on a west Belfast housing estate were in the police. They cycled to work at Dunmurry RUC station. These were nice people, as far as a child can judge. I played with their children. They all moved away at the start of the Troubles for their own safety. For some, the move didn't save them. My sister married a policeman, a lovely guy called Eddie, but I could only socialise with him well away from home, and though he came up to Andersonstown occasionally, this was a reckless thing to do. He died in his 30s from a brain haemorrhage. The oddest thing about Eddie being a cop was that you could never imagine him hitting anyone over the head with a baton. He was one of the most gentle people I have known, hilariously funny. He had me doubled up with laughter at times. In some ways he was just a big child. And he had funny dark stories about policing. One of them concerned the discovery of a body floating in a river that bordered two policing divisions. He claimed that police on each side tried to nudge the body over to the other side so that they wouldn't have to deal with it. I am not sure if there is any truth in that but it was a long time ago and reflects the sort of black humour I have heard from police and others in emergency services. I worked with the RUC part-time at their training camps at Garnerville, Gough Barracks and Maydown in the late Nineties and learnt that they tended to think of themselves as a third community in Northern Ireland. As a rough estimate, during the time that Drew Harris served in the RUC, 125 officers were murdered. Colm Horkan is the first Garda officer to have been murdered during his spell as commissioner there. It was a moving funeral, inhibited by social distancing. Colm's brother spoke of him touchingly as the rock in the family and a GAA player who had given some people in the congregation a hard time on the field. With good fortune and care, Commissioner Harris may see out his term at the head of An Garda Siochana without another funeral for a murdered officer. Bloody as the gang scene is in the south, it is not nearly as bloody as the north was in the 1980s. It would have been a lot less bloody if more had had the grace Harris showed on Sunday. As a female legal academic, former practising lawyer, and judge's associate, I hope that the explosive allegations made against former High Court judge Dyson Heydon will create the Australian legal profession's #MeToo moment. It is my professional culture. I have lived it and observed it. We need a moment to expose, examine and fundamentally change a culture that tolerates sexual predation. In addition, as a legal academic who has studied the accountability for complaints against judges for almost a decade, I also hope that these findings provide a long-awaited catalyst for fixing the larger accountability vacuum that still yawns over the Australian federal judiciary. It is a vacuum that has allowed sexist, racist and other troubling conduct to go largely unaddressed. The complaints made to the Chief Justice of the High Court against Heydon by his former associates were investigated by an administrative inquiry that had to be specially set up for the task. The inquiry's six recommendations were tailored to redress the particular position of power held by a judge over an associate. These changes are needed. The judge-associate relationship is held between a senior legal practitioner and someone at the stage of entering the profession, and is both professional, yet deeply personal. However, the further investigations by the Herald into Heydon's conduct towards members of the legal profession and the judiciary demonstrates that the unique position of judges extends beyond the judge-associate relationship, and cuts through the entire profession in malignant ways. An Illinois man who spent the last nine weeks of his wife's high-risk pregnancy keeping vigil outside her hospital room due to coronavirus restrictions got to celebrate his first Father's Day on Sunday. Robert Conlin's son, Forest Gace Walter Conlin, was born on June 20, weighing in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces. "He did everything he could to be my son and I need to do everything I can to be his father," Conlin told ABC News' "World News Tonight" of his son. "It's just the greatest gift. The greatest gift. A Father's Day to remember for sure." Forest was born nearly 70 days after his mom, Conlin's wife, Shona Moeller, was placed on bed rest at a Chicago-area hospital. Moeller, a high school teacher and part-time life coach, had a normal pregnancy up until 20 weeks, when her water broke prematurely. She spent three weeks on bed rest at home trying to not go into labor and then was admitted to AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Hinsdale, Illinois, when she reached 23 weeks of pregnancy. Since April 13, Moeller had been on bed rest in a hospital room, trying to keep her pregnancy on hold for as long as possible in order to increase the odds that the couple's son would be born healthy. PHOTO: Robert Conlin, of Chicago, has been cheering on his pregnant wife Shona Moeller from outside the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Robert Conlin) While Moeller worked to keep herself and her son alive, Conlin did everything he could to try to make an abnormal time more normal. Unable to visit Moeller in the hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic, Conlin turned the sidewalk that the window in Moeller's fourth-floor hospital room looked down onto into their refuge. He would sit in a lawn chair holding handmade signs to cheer Conlin on, and brought date nights to her more than three dozen times. For date nights, Conlin would order takeout from the couple's favorite restaurant and have Moeller's entree brought to her hospital room. Conlin enjoyed his entree at the sidewalk table and the two would FaceTime with each other while they ate dinner. Story continues PHOTO: Robert Conlin, of Chicago, has been cheering on his pregnant wife Shona Moeller from outside the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Robert Conlin) "I think its a little glimpse of some normalcy," Conlin, 45, told "Good Morning America" last month. "We ask each other on dates all the time still and the first time I came [to the hospital] as a date night, I asked her the same thing, 'Do you want to go on a dinner date with me?'" "She thought we were just going to do it over FaceTime so when I showed up, she was really surprised," he said. PHOTO: Robert Conlin, of Chicago, has been cheering on his pregnant wife Shona Moeller from outside the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Robert Conlin) Moeller, 41, said she "lost her breath" the first time she went to the window and saw that Conlin had set up a date night. "In this time where Im by myself, every gesture feels so monumental and lovely and sweet," she said. "It felt like he had traveled the world to come see me because it meant so much." Conlin was able to be by Moeller's side on Saturday when she delivered their son. Forest is in the NICU and is doing well but "still has a long road to make it home in a few weeks," according to Conlin, who called his son "a fighter." "My heart beats outside of me," Conlin wrote in a Facebook post announcing Forest's birth. "WE DID IT!!!" Dad who brought date nights to his pregnant wife's hospital window celebrates 1st Father's Day originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, SkylineDx signed the 10th collaboration agreement with an academic partner for research under the extensive Falcon R&D Program to further validate both melanoma (skin cancer) tests. The 10 clinical centers represent 6 countries on 3 continents with data on over 3,500 cutaneous melanoma patients. The data generated will be used in the validation of the Merlin and Peregrine assay. The Merlin assay has been developed to predict a patient's risk of having metastasis in the sentinel lymph node. If a patient is identified as low-risk, the surgery that removes the sentinel lymph node can be safely avoided. The Merlin assay is developed on a US patient dataset[2] and validated in a European dataset[3]. The group of patients without metastasis in their sentinel lymph nodes, are currently considered low risk, although a significant number of patients will see their melanoma returning within 5 years. The Peregrine assay has been developed to identify patients at high risk of disease recurrence within this group of patients now considered low-risk, so treatment options can be discussed[4-5]. "I am very pleased that we are continuing our research with global partners for retrospective validation studies. Even more clinical groups have expressed interest to collaborate and are likely to be added in the near future to this research initiative. Processing of the biobanked samples is in full swing and we expect to have all the results for analyses by the end of 2020. The peer reviewed publication will follow shortly in 2021," explains Dharminder Chahal, CEO SkylineDx. About Merlin & Peregrine Both assays are using the CP-GEP model, a powerful algorithm that calculates the risk of metastasis in a patient's sentinel lymph nodes (predictive use) and the risk of the melanoma returning (prognostic use). The model is able to calculate risk on an individual basis through a combination analysis of 8 genes from the patient's primary tumor, the tumor thickness and the patient's age. The model has been previously published in JCO Precision Oncology[2]. The predictive use of the CP-GEP model is the main focus of the Merlin Study Initiative. The prognostic use of the CP-GEP model is the main focus of the Peregrine Study Initiative. Both are developed under the wings of the Falcon R&D Program. More information on www.falconprogram.com. About SkylineDx SkylineDx is a biotechnology company, mainly focused on research & development of molecular diagnostics in oncology. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and complemented with a field medical and scientific affairs team in the US and a CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego (California). SkylineDx uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility, assisting healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of disease or predict a patient's response to treatment. Based on test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment approach to the individual patient. To learn more, please visit www.skylinedx.com. Footnotes 1 Link to this press release on website SkylineDx (click here) 2 Bellomo et al., 2020. Model combining tumor molecular and clinicopathologic risk factors predicts sentinel lymph node metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma. JCO Precis Oncol 4:319-334 (click here) 3 Mulder & Dwarkasing et al., 2019. Validation of a clinicopathological and gene expression profile (CP-GEP) model for sentinel lymph node metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma. Annals of Oncology30:2019(issue suppl 5; mdz255.014). Click here. 4 Eggermont et al., 2020. Using a clinicopathologic and gene expression model to identify melanoma patients at high risk for disease relapse. J Clin Oncol 38:2020(suppl; abstr 10068). Click here. 5 Wever et al., 2020. Identification of stage IIA melanoma patients at high risk for disease relapse using a clinicopathologic and gene expression model. J Clin Oncol 38:2020(suppl; abstr e22088). Click here. Ciarran Stott has shared his ultimate tip for cleaning problematic scuffs off white sneakers. On Tuesday, the Bachelor in Paradise star shared an Instagram Stories video in which he explained he had stepped on his own shoe and damaged it with an unsightly mark. They aren't just any sneakers though, the British import had dirtied his designer $1500 Dior high-tops, which he described as 'well annoying'. A man in the know! On Tuesday, Ciarran Stott (pictured) shared his ultimate tip for cleaning problematic scuffs off white sneakers The 26-year-old asked for tips from his fans, but it was his friend, Victoria Rowlatt, who came to the rescue. In further Instagram Stories, Victoria furiously rubbed the white portion of the shoe with a cloth. As the mark came away with some elbow grease, she declared 'Gumption! Write that down on your phone'. Doh! The Bachelor in Paradise star shared an Instagram Stories video in which he explained he had stepped on his own shoe and damaged it with an unsightly mark Not the Dior! They aren't just any sneakers though, the British import had dirtied his designer $1500 Dior high-tops, which he described as 'well annoying' Gumption is a bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaning paste that retails from between $6-7. The scuff magically vanished, and Ciarran declared that he was taking Victoria to dinner for her efforts. The cheeky Brit, who appeared on The Bachelorette last year, will get his second shot at love on the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise. Genius: The 26-year-old asked for tips from his fans, but it was his friend, Victoria Rowlatt (pictured), who came to the rescue As the mark came away with some elbow grease, she declared: 'Gumption! Write that down on your phone' Handy tip! Gumption is a bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaning paste that retails from between $6-7 The heavily-tattooed hunk is convinced he will get a 'villain' edit, telling the Manchester Evening News that his public image may well be tarnished when it goes to air. 'I think I'll go from the sweetheart of Australia to the bad boy of Australia so that won't be good,' he said. 'I just thought I was on Love Island so was trying to get with every bird possible,' he admitted. North Penn School District parents take board to task over mask-taping incident New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday called for "reformed multilateralism" and respect for "international law" during his RIC meeting with foreign ministers of Russia and China. The EAM's participation comes amidst India-China row at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh last week in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. While China has accepted casualties, it has declined to give the number. During the video conference meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second World War, as well as the foundation of the United Nations, EAM said, "Recognizing the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order." On UN, Jaishanker said, "International affairs must also come to terms with contemporary reality.." and while members of the New York-based body has increased from 50 to 193, India's hope "will also now converge on the value of reformed multilateralism". He explained, "When the victors met to fashion the ensuing global order, the political circumstances of that era did not give India due recognition" and the "historical injustice has stood uncorrected for the last 75 years, even as the world has changed" and therefore, "world to realize both the contribution that India made and the need to rectify the past." Highlighting India's "significant contribution" during World War II, the EAM talked about how Indian blood was shed at the battlefields of the world, from Tobruk, El Alamein and Montecassino, to Singapore, Kohima and Borneo and how "we helped keep key supply lines open to both your countries" one through the Persian corridor and the other over the Himalayan hump. 2.3 million Indian nationals participated "under arms" and 14 million more participated in war production. He gave examples, how Indians have been conferred the Order of the Red Star by the Soviet Union and the medical mission led by Dr Kotnis was a "legend in China". Dr Kotnis was an Indian physician who went to China to provide medical assistance during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. A Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces comprising 75 all ranks will participate in the Military Parade at Red Square, Moscow on June 24. The victory day parade will commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory of the Soviet Union in World War II or as known in Russia--the great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Use-of-force policies in police departments in 20 of the largest cities in the US failed to meet even minimum standards under international human rights guidelines, according to a report from the University of Chicago Law School. The report from the law schools International Human Rights Clinic, highlights American policings difficulty balancing power with maintaining basic human rights, and the chasm between law enforcement in the US and elsewhere. Officers are too broadly given discretion for lethal force, effectively authorising state-sanctioned violence and the exercise of arbitrary brute force, a common tool of tyrannical and despotic governments, the report says. The reports release following widespread protests and demands for dramatic police reform in the wake of police killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshared Brooks and other black Americans. Researchers graded 20 police departments against international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the two fundamental international instruments protecting human rights, establish the rights to life, equality, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and freedom from discrimination, the report says. Law enforcement relies on the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, and a Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on protection of the right to life during law enforcement, according to the report. But in a review of department policies from 20 American cities, the university survey found that none has a use-of-force policy that meets those standards. Police departments grant their officers deadly discretion, allowing the use of lethal force to capture an escaping suspect or to prevent the commission of a felony, regardless of whether the suspect poses a threat of any kind, clinic director Claudia Flores told the university. Clear constraints on police discretion are critical to protecting the human rights of all people especially members of marginalized or disempowered communities. Recommended How abolitionists see an America without police and prisons Accountability measures also are largely absent, the report discovered. All 20 departments in the report had internal systems to report lethal force, but only the Los Angeles and Chicago police departments also required external investigations. Those two cities rank highest among the list of international compliance measures. At the bottom is Indianapolis, which allows police to use deadly force in the event of a felony without limiting or specifying the relevant felonies or the kind of force or threat of force involved in the commission of the felony, the report says. Body-mounted camera footage and viral witness images showing police killing people in custody provide grim illustrations of the power law enforcement officers have over the people they are sworn to serve and protect and the deadly consequences when they abuse that power, she said. Police lethal use-of-force policies provide the primary source of guidance and accountability for officer discretion to use force in any given situation and police in this country have a great deal of discretion. The report recommends federal, state and local lawmakers, as well as the departments themselves, adopt immediate and concrete measures to force compliance with international law. Stunning aerial shots show global Black Lives Matter crowds on 6 June 21 show all Stunning aerial shots show global Black Lives Matter crowds on 6 June 1/21 An aerial photo made with a drone shows a large group gathered in Union Park to protest the arrest of George Floyd, who later died in police custody, in Chicago, Illinois EPA 2/21 A large group marching and chanting in Chicago, Illinois EPA/Tannen Maury 3/21 Protesters gather along the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum and Eakins Oval during a protest AP 4/21 Demonstrators try to block a freeway during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York REUTERS 5/21 Thousands of demonstrators march across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California REUTERS 6/21 Demonstrators gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington REUTERS 7/21 Demonstrators march down Flatbush Avenue toward the Manhattan Bridge chanting slogans REUTERS 8/21 Protesters take part in a demonstration to protest in support of the George Floyd protests in the United States, and also to commemorate a similar circumstance in France when Adama Traore, a 24-year-old Frenchman was killed in 2016 by police, during an rally in Champ de Mars next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris EPA 9/21 Demonstrators attend a protest in Berlin, Germany FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS 10/21 Demonstrators protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Sydney RON SHAMGAR via REUTERS 11/21 Demonstrators attend a Black Lives Matter protest to express solidarity with US protestors in Sydney AFP via Getty Images 12/21 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens, UK PA 13/21 People wearing masks hold placards during a protest march over the alleged police abuse of a Turkish man, in echoes of a Black Lives Matter protest, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Tokyo REUTERS/Issei Kato 14/21 Demonstrators attend a protest against police brutality in Frankfurt REUTERS 15/21 Demonstrators attend a protest against police brutality at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany REUTERS 16/21 People stand in silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds in tribute to George Floyd during a protest against racism and police brutality in Frankfurt am Main, Germany Getty Images 17/21 Thousands of people demonstrate in Cologne, Germany AP 18/21 Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London AFP via Getty Images 19/21 Demonstrators cross the River Thames via Vauxhall Bridge as they march to protest outside the US Embassy in London AFP via Getty Images 20/21 Demonstrators gather for a protest against racism and police violence in Lisbon AP 21/21 Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen on crutches with demonstrators in Watford, Britain REUTERS Researchers recommend that the Department of Justice collect, store, analyse and make public all data on police actions and eliminate qualified immunity, which shields law enforcement from constitutional violations, including the use of lethal force. Law enforcement also should be required to de-escalate scenes and eliminate all techniques, tactics and technologies that pose a risk of death or serious bodily harm, such as chokeholds, neck restraints, tear gas and rubber bullets, the report says. It also suggests departments reevaluate whether armed officers are necessary in public events. True police reform must start in the policies and practices of police departments themselves, report co-author Brian Citro told the university. In light of the recent police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis and others, the failure of police policies to sufficiently constrain the use of lethal force and ensure real accountability should alarm every one of us. BOCA RATON, Fla., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gourmet catering specialists, Potions in Motion, has appointed award-winning brand specialists The Gab Group as PR agency of record. Owned and operated by husband and wife entrepreneurial team, Jason and Tara Savino, the Boca Raton-based business is a trusted source for events large or small. Through local and national public relations, The Gab Group will showcase Potions in Motion as Florida's top choice for flawless event execution. "Whether you're throwing the party of the century or a simple lunch meeting, Potions in Motion is the area's top caterer synonymous with artistic modernity and bespoke menu excellence," says The Gab Group Founder and CEO Michelle Soudry. "Providing the best of the best in terms of food and beverage and staffing, you can leave the work to Potions in Motion and enjoy the event, knowing you're in the best hands possible." As part of their commitment to making the pivot during the COVID pandemic, Potions in Motion introduced wildly popular affordable delivery boxes at their sister site, www.DinnersinMotion.com including Mother's Day in a Box, Father's Day in a Box, curated Craft Cocktail Boxes, Family Movie Night packages along with Dive in Movie packages. Potions in Motion offers five categories of mobile services: gourmet food catering, premium beverage and bar services, liquor and beverage promotions, portable bar manufacturer, and small/large format wholesale printing. In addition to its creative chefs, the company's team of bartenders, wait staff and servers are trained and safety-certified to accommodate any event including weddings, tradeshows, charitable functions or themed parties. A 10,000 square-foot facility housing a state-of-the-art prep kitchen and print shop can be found inside the Boca Raton headquarters. Potions in Motion services Florida, from Vero Beach to Key West as well the Fort Meyers metropolitan area on the West Coast. Additional satellite offices are located in Chicago, New York City and North Carolina. About The Gab Group Founded in 2004 by PR visionary Michelle Soudry, The Gab Group is recognized for award-winning brand communications specializing in local and national product, service, celebrity, hospitality and lifestyle accounts. Consistently ranked a Top PR and Branding Agency, the agency's broad scope of services includes brand-focused PR, strategic marketing, hospitality consulting services and exceptional special events. For more information, visit www.thegabgroup.com. Media Contact: Michelle Soudry The Gab Group 561.750.3500 [email protected] SOURCE The Gab Group Related Links http://www.thegabgroup.com/ Under the change to the protocols that are jointly developed and overseen by the league and the NFL Players Association, the handful of unvaccinated players assigned to the eight remaining playoff teams will now will be tested only when they have symptoms, as with vaccinated players and team staffers. Sandia National Laboratories is teaming with local hospitals and medical device manufacturers to increase the availability of respirator masks for health care workers. We're helping local medical device manufacturers test materials they are using to make medical-grade masks, and we're helping local hospitals by evaluating methods they've developed to clean N95 masks for reuse. We're providing them information they need to make decisions regarding the reuse of sterilized N95 masks and the use of alternatives to N95 masks to protect health care workers and patients." Gil Herrera, Sandia Fellow N95 respirator masks are certified to block 95% of extremely small particles without restricting breathing. Sandia is conducting tests for manufacturers to show how new mask designs measure up to these industry standards. Sandia also is studying disinfection methods that could enable hospitals to reuse masks, lessening the need for new ones. Assistance has been provided at no cost to partners through a combination of internal funds and funding from the Department of Energy Office of Science. Testing unconventional materials When respirators ran low in hospitals, Albuquerque companies Marpac, Sierra Peaks and Sew-EZ approached Sandia for help testing materials outside the typical supply chain that could be used to manufacture more. Examples included materials used for heating and air conditioning systems, and vacuum bags. Sandia principal investigator Michael Omana leads a team that modified existing aerosol and filtration systems used for nuclear nonproliferation work to conduct tests and comparison studies for the projects. One of the test systems included an automated filter tester commonly found in industry and intended for material certification. Through these tests, the researchers identified the most promising filter media, comparable to N95 filtration, to use for respirator production. "Sandia isn't a certification lab, but we were able to use the systems to provide quantitative results," Omana said. "We've been able to utilize two independent systems to validate a robust data set." Evaluating reuse technologies Sandia is collaborating with the University of New Mexico Hospital to assess how to safely decontaminate and reuse respirators. The team is assessing a hydrogen-peroxide vapor method currently being used by UNM Hospital, as well as less specialized techniques that could be used at smaller hospitals. Sandia's technical breadth and experimental capabilities, including aerosol testing labs, are enabling this project supporting hospitals' efforts to address shortages in critical personal protective equipment. The study examines the impact of repeated decontamination cycles on N95 masks' respirator filtration, fit and mechanical integrity. Sandia and UNM Hospital are seeking to understand degradation mechanisms and explore differences due to the make and model of the respirators and decontamination methods. Advancing sterilization techniques Supercritical carbon dioxide -- a solvent that has properties of both a liquid and a gas -- is becoming increasingly popular as an eco-friendly alternative in the dry-cleaning industry. It might also safely and reliably sterilize N95 respirators and other critical medical supplies for reuse on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Sandia team in Livermore, California, is investigating. If found to be appropriate and effective, the sterilization process could be rapidly deployed at hospitals nationwide because it is already used in commercial dry-cleaning. Many conventional sterilization methods cannot be used because they degrade mask performance, but supercritical carbon dioxide is gentler than other chemical disinfectants and works at relatively low temperatures. "Hospitals have different resources and different needs," Gil said, "so Sandia is working with medical practitioners on a wide range of approaches to help keep health care professionals protected. Together, we can find enduring solutions." Safoora Zargar was arrested in April and charged under stringent anti-terror law for protesting against citizenship law. A court in India has granted bail to Safoora Zargar, a 27-year-old student activist who was jailed in April in a case related to the religious violence in capital New Delhi earlier this year. A New Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Zargar on the condition that she does not involve herself in activities that could hamper the investigation. She has also been directed to not leave the capital city. Zargars imprisonment, despite her pregnancy and amid the coronavirus pandemic, had caused widespread outrage, with activists and lawyers across India calling for her release on humanitarian grounds. She was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 2019 (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law rights groups have labelled draconian. Police accuse her of being a key conspirator in the February violence that erupted in northeast Delhi during nationwide protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). At least 53 people were killed, mostly Muslims, in the worst violence in the capital since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The police investigation into the violence has seen disproportionate arrests of Muslims, some of them under the stringent UAPA, with writers, academics, lawyers and filmmakers calling it an unending witch-hunt of peaceful protesters. Zargar was jailed in New Delhis Tihar prison complex, one of Indias most overcrowded prisons which is currently holding nearly double the number of inmates it was built for. Safoora Zargar granted bail. Huge relief Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) June 23, 2020 Zargar, a research scholar at the Jamia Millia Islamia university in New Delhi, had organised weeks of protests against the CAA, passed by Indias Hindu nationalist government in December last year. The law grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim religious minorities from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, a provision that critics say violates Indias secular constitution and is aimed at disenfranchising the countrys 200 million Muslims. The CAA, coupled with a planned nationwide National Population Register process to identify illegal migrants, has been challenged in Indias Supreme Court by several activists and opposition parties. Zargar was a member of the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), a student group formed to challenge the citizenship law. Thousands of Indians often led by Muslim women had hit the streets to demand the repeal of the anti-Muslim law. The Human Rights Watch earlier this month asked the Indian authorities to immediately drop politically motivated charges and release people arrested for protesting against the CAA. Police have used draconian anti-terrorism, sedition, and other laws against students, activists, and other government critics, but have not acted against violence by supporters of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the rights group said in its report. PPG Industries Inc. PPG is expected to gain from its cost-saving actions and synergies of acquisitions amid certain headwinds including soft demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shares of the paints giant are down 11.4% over a year compared with its industrys 15.2% decline. Lets find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment. Whats Favoring the Stock? PPG Industries is taking steps to grow business through strategic acquisitions. The buyout of Whitford Worldwide in 2019 further strengthened its robust industrial coatings solutions portfolio while the Hemmelrath acquisition expanded its range of automotive coating products. The acquisition of specialty materials maker, Dexmet Corporation, also allows the company to add value to its customers by enhancing product offerings as well as expanding R&D capabilities. The purchase of Industria Chimica Reggiana also complements the companys current product offerings for the automotive refinish and light industrial coatings industries. Earlier this year, the company also closed the acquisition of Alpha Coating Technologies. Acquisitions are expected to contribute to the companys sales in 2020. Moreover, PPG Industries is actively managing costs and taking appropriate pricing actions amid a challenging business environment. It remains focused on improving its cost structure and recovering margins through price hikes. PPG Industries achieved roughly $20 million in cost savings from its restructuring programs in the first quarter of 2020. The company, earlier this month, approved substantial restructuring actions to lower its global cost structure. The plan includes a voluntary separation program that was offered in the United States and Canada. The company cited soft global economic conditions due to the pandemic and related recovery pace in a few end-use markets coupled with other opportunities to optimize supply-chain and functional costs. Upon completion, PPG Industries anticipates the planned actions to offer $160-$170 million in annual pre-tax cost savings, with roughly $25-$35 million of savings predicted in 2020. Moreover, the remainder of the annual cost savings is expected to be realized by the end of 2021. The company expects these measures to allow it to come out of the current crisis with reduced structural costs. On account of these actions along with sustained discretionary cost controls, the company anticipates strong operating margin leverage as economic activities continue to improve. A Few Worries PPG Industries faces challenges from muted demand across certain businesses due to coronavirus. Soft demand is expected to hurt its sales volumes in the second quarter of 2020. The company envisions its total sales volume for the second quarter to be down 30-35%. It expects customer demand to remain significantly impacted with declines continuing in automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM), automotive refinish and aerospace coatings businesses. PPG Industries is witnessing a reduction in automotive OEM industry production rates. For industrial, it sees lower sales volumes across all major regions. Moreover, weaker demand due to lower miles driven is expected to hurt volumes in automotive refinish. The company also expects customer shutdowns and lower miles flown globally to hurt sales volumes in aerospace in the second quarter. The company is also exposed to headwinds from unfavorable currency translation. Unfavorable currency swings due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar vis-a-vis a broad range of currencies hurt its sales and earnings in the first quarter. PPG Industries expects currency translation headwinds to impact net sales by $140-$150 million in the second quarter. As such, unfavorable currency may continue to exert pressure on its sales and margins. Story continues PPG Industries, Inc. Price and Consensus PPG Industries, Inc. Price and Consensus PPG Industries, Inc. price-consensus-chart | PPG Industries, Inc. Quote Stocks to Consider Better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space are Agnico Eagle Mines Limited AEM, Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU. Agnico Eagle has a projected earnings growth rate of 53.6% for the current year. The companys shares have gained roughly 17% in a year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Barrick Gold has a projected earnings growth rate of 65% for the current year. The companys shares have shot up around 57% in a year. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2. AngloGold has a projected earnings growth rate of 109.9% for the current year. The companys shares have surged around 55% in a year. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2. These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking. Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early. See the 5 high-tech 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 PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research S t James was Jesuss fiery, go-getting disciple, by all accounts. Thats why he was venerated by the armies of the Spanish crusade. Similar characteristics seem to have been adopted by the troops at his namesake, the wealth manager St Jamess Place. No matter what the weather, SJPs battalion of advisers seem to bring in heaps of new business. Theyll hate me for saying it, but thats largely because, while theyre technically advisers, theyre really salesmen. Good, well trained salesmen, but salesmen nonetheless. And because theyre so good, SJP charges seemingly high fees for selling SJPs products no matter how much negative publicity they incur. So, when SJP retained Neil Woodford as the manager of its High Income fund long after the rest of the market realised he was a busted flush, investors money kept coming in. When The Sunday Times revealed in gory detail SJPs outrageous pay and perks culture featuring annual cruises for top performers the money still kept rolling. Now, despite Covid making markets super-risky, assets under management are up 6.3% this year. Net inflows the difference between investors putting more cash in and taking cash out are a positive 3.6%. The secret sauce is this; SJP advisers are all self-employed. They sell SJP products and use its systems, but they are each standalone, eat-what-you-kill businesses. Like Domino's franchisees, but with pensions, not pizzas. That breeds profit-driven entrepreneurs and explains why the SJP machine works through thick and thin. Personally, it would put me off using their services, but customer loyalty is strong (perhaps aided by some hefty cancellation fees). As Charlton Illingworth analysts put it, SJP's shares are down 22% since February, yet assets under management are up 6%. So, buy the shares, if not the products. New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (June 23) called his visit to Moscow a sign of India-Russia special friendship. "My visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation during the COVID pandemic. This is a sign of our special friendship." The Minister who is on a three-day visit to Moscow added, "Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels." My visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation during the COVID pandemic. This is a sign of our special friendship. Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020 He also said that he's looking forward to the visit of Russias President Vladimir Putin to India at the invitation of PM Narendra Modi, later in 2020. Rajnath also commented on the 75th Victory Day Parade of World War II in Moscow and said, "It is a great honor that an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow." He stated, "Indian soldiers participated in the war effort in the millions and suffered immense causalities. Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army." The Minister also visited the Indian Embassy in Moscow and paid his tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at his statue. Visited the Indian Embassy in Moscow today and paid my humble tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at his statue. @IndEmbMoscow pic.twitter.com/fhQngvud8Q Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020 Rajnath also had a meeting with Russias Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov where they reviewed the defence cooperation and discussed ways to expand it. "India & Russia enjoy Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and defence relationship is one of its important pillars," wrote Rajnath on Twitter. Had an excellent meeting with Russias Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Yury Borisov. India & Russia enjoy Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and defence relationship is one of its important pillars. We reviewed our defence cooperation and discussed ways to expand it. pic.twitter.com/tkTCOnIEDx Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020 It is expected that Rajnath would raise the issue of the delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems during his discussions with the Russian leaders. Educators warn the devil will be in the detail of a looming overhaul of the NSW curriculum, such as which subjects will be culled and how an ambitious but vague plan to let students learn at their own pace will work in the classroom. Premier Gladys Berejiklian billed the reform as a back-to-basics strategy, saying implementing a new kindergarten to year 12 curriculum by 2024 and putting the broom through unnecessary subjects will let teachers focus on core skills. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell on Tuesday. Credit:Rhett Wyman The government has already identified about 120 subjects it is considering cutting from next year, including puppetry and jewellery. But Phil Seymour from the Primary Principals' Association said there was nothing basic about the proposals, which focused on developing skills such as critical thinking while also ensuring students had a strong grasp of fundamentals. Rafferty Law's budding career is a family affair! The 23-year-old has inherited his acting chops and good looks from dad Jude Law, and now he's honing his modeling skills with a little help from his mom, Sadie Frost. While self-isolating at home during the coronavirus pandemic, Law teamed up with the English actress and producer for a quarantine photo shoot to celebrate the release of his latest film, "Twist." The striking images can be seen in Wonderland Magazine's summer issue and were shot in the family's London home. Rafferty Law is following in his father's footsteps as a budding actor. (Sadie Frost / Wonderland Magazine) In the eye-catching photo spread, Law can be seen posing around the house in the pool, on a couch, hanging out with his brother, Rudy, 17, and sister, Iris, 19. "It's so funny, the dynamic of all of us being back in the house together I caught my brother hiding snacks around the house. I'm not even joking," the actor told the magazine. The Law siblings posed for the photo shoot with their brother. (Sadie Frost / Wonderland Magazine) Law gave fans a peek at the magazine cover on Instagram and captioned the post with a sweet message for his mom: "Nowt better than getting your ma to take the snap Wonderland cover out now." Frost posted the cover image on her Instagram account and said she was grateful for the opportunity to photograph her son and get some quality time in: "Working with Raff is always a joy - we are still not bored of exploring mama and son projects... i wanted to keep us all busy and creative in such weird times." Frost captured some artistic shots for the magazine. (Sadie Frost / Wonderland Magazine) In his interview with the magazine, Law discusses his experience filming "Twist," a new take on the Charles Dickens book "Oliver Twist." Twist was one of the most enjoyable and intense experiences Ive ever had. It was a whirlwind, he said. The script and the cast blew me away. I was like, The pressure is on. I really need to put in the time. Law definitely got his heartthrob looks from his father. (Sadie Frost / Wonderland Magazine) The young actor, who sings in the band Outer Stella Overdrive, also talks about the experience of having two famous parents while trying to navigate a career in Hollywood. Story continues "I think there have been advantages and disadvantages to it," he said. "Ive always focused on pursuing the things I love and proving to people that Im hardworking." You can read more of the interview, written by Anya Cooper and edited by editorial director, Huw Gwyther, in the summer issue of Wonderland Magazine. (Sadie Frost / Wonderland Magazine) Looking ahead to his next career moves, Law says he's eager to "seize every opportunity I can" and said he always has his mother's words of wisdom in the back of his mind: "She goes out of her way to reach out to people (and) shes always encouraged me to find my own path. Her kindness to everyone is something that Ive grown up admiring and wanting to replicate." Beijing on Tuesday said the tripartite grouping of Russia, India and China should maintain strategic autonomy, properly handle sensitive issues in bilateral ties and overall maintain a good relationship. Speaking at the Russia, India and China (RIC) virtual foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday, state councilor and minister, Wang Yi said the three countries should correctly treat and properly handle sensitive factors in bilateral relations and overall maintain a good relationship. Properly handle sensitive factors in bilateral issues was the closest that Wang came in referring to the ongoing border tension with India, according to the statement in Mandarin released by the Chinese foreign ministry on the RIC foreign ministers meet. Indias external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov took part in the meeting. India and China are facing their biggest diplomatic and military crisis in decades following the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley on the night of June 15, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead. Since the night of violence last week, New Delhi and Beijing have traded sharp accusations and diplomatic counters about the sequence of events that led to the brawl that turned deadly in the icy terrain of eastern Ladakh. At the RIC meet, however, the interaction, as per the official version, was seemingly more cordial. Wang said China supports Russia to hold the first China-Russia-India defence ministers meeting to enhance the level of defence and security cooperation. According to the statement, Wang recommended establishing a tripartite ministerial dialogue mechanism in the professional fields of economy, trade, energy, transportation, education, culture, and health; and, establish a panel of experts and celebrities to provide suggestions for deepening the tripartite cooperation. Wang said it was important to improve the cooperation level of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in various fields and maintain the unity and cooperation of the BRICS countries. On tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, Wang said sharing lessons learned from useful experience in tackling the outbreak and cooperation in drug and vaccine research and development was important. The three countries should explore the establishment of a joint defence and joint control mechanism against the pandemic, and establish a fast channel for personnel and a green channel for logistics. The three countries should jointly promote international anti-epidemic cooperation, resolutely resist stigmatising the epidemic situation, and support the WHO. Without directly referring to the US, Wang said some countries are disrupting the world order even as the Covid-19 pandemic rages globally. He said the Covid-19 outbreak was bringing a series of complex changes to the world. On the one hand, unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying were on the rise; some countries and forces were eager to de-link and de-group, disrupt international cooperation against the epidemic, and try to provoke ideological and social confrontation, thus putting the world in danger. He said it was important to maintain the global industrial supply chain. The Chinese statement said both Russia and India firmly support multilateralism and multipolarisation and advocate that international relations should be based on generally accepted norms of international law. Family friends, equipped with a trombone, bongos and other percussive instruments, put a groovy Latin spin on Happy Birthday while other family members set up mounds and mounds of food. Kids, grandkids, great-grandkids the great-great grandkids werent able to make the trip from Florida because of the pandemic nieces and nephews huddled around him for selfies while someone broke out the wine. And all of them cautiously watched the sky, praying the weather would hold out, which it thankfully did until later. Growing up in the Orthodox Jewish community, Daniel Atwood never had a Jewish LGBTQ person he could look up to. He long-awaited the moment he would be ordained as a rabbi. But after completing his schooling at New Yorks Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in 2019, Atwood was denied ordination once the school discovered he was engaged to a man. Months later in Jerusalem, Atwood was ordained as the world's first openly gay Orthodox rabbi. In a lot of communities, queer people are seen as, its OK to be here but, its not the ideal way to live, Atwood said. Its seen as a personal challenge, something I should be struggling with, something I should be sad about. However, thats not my approach to life. Atwood is among many progressive faith leaders who celebrated the Supreme Court's historic ruling last week outlawing discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace. But other religious leaders who oppose LGBTQ rights questioned the decision, particularly as to whether it applies to religious institutions that are often protected by First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The division is unfolding as more religious Americans have become supportive of LGBTQ rights, even as their faith leaders denounce such changes. As the Supreme Court listen to arguments about sex discrimination in the workplace, protesters gather outside on Oct. 8, 2019. The court's decision prohibits employers from firing someone because of their sexual orientation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Franklin Graham, leader of the Samaritan Purse, an influential evangelical relief group, and an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said the ruling may infringe on the rights of religious groups who oppose LGBTQ rights. Its more than just protecting gay people, Graham said of the ruling. I dont think gay people should be discriminated against, but at the same time, Christians shouldnt be discriminated against either. We should have the freedom to exercise our faith and belief and be able to share what we believe. Many conservatives Christians believe God made man and woman to be together and that LGBTQ sex is a sin, Graham said. He urged Christians to pray about their beliefs and contact lawmakers about their opposition to the Supreme Court decision. Story continues In the ruling, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a conservative who was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump, wrote that exactly how the decision will affect religious liberty "are questions for future cases." Under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, the government is prohibited from substantially burdening a persons exercise of religion." The Supreme Court is expected to look further into LGBTQ rights and religious liberty protections during its next term, which begins in October. Earlier this year, the court agreed to hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which centers on whether faith-based child welfare organizations can reject LGBTQ families and others seen as acting against their religious beliefs. The court's recent record on LGBTQ has been mixed, with a majority of justices ruling in 2015 that all states must recognize and grant same-sex marriages. In 2019, however, a majority ruled that the Trump administration could block most transgender people from serving in the military while lower courts reviewed cases challenging the policy. Six of the Supreme Court Justices are Catholic and the other three are Jewish. In his dissent in the workplace discrimination case, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned that the ruling "will threaten freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and personal privacy and safety." Many religious groups in the U.S. have long opposed LGBTQ civil rights, but as political beliefs have evolved and gay Americans have fought for the right to be their true selves, many people of faith have shifted their opinions. In 2014, 62% of Americans said LGBTQ Americans should be accepted, up from 50% of Americans who said the same in 2007, according to the Pew Research Center. Among religious Americans, 81% of Jewish people and 70% of Catholics said LGBTQ people should be accepted. Meanwhile, 53% of evangelical Protestants surveyed in the poll said LGBTQ rights should be discouraged. Gay rights advocates celebrated outside the Supreme Court after the justices legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops president and archbishop, Jose Horacio Gomez, released a statement last week saying he was deeply concerned about the Supreme Courts decision to redefine the legal meaning of sex, calling it an injustice that will have implications in all aspects of American life. "By erasing the beautiful differences and complementary relationship between man and woman, we ignore the glory of Gods creation and harm the human family, the first building block of society," he said, adding, "Protecting our neighbors from unjust discrimination does not require redefining human nature." Religious higher education institutions, including the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, Catholic University of America and Brigham Young University in Utah, submitted an amicus brief in the case arguing that expanding civil rights protections to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity "would negatively impact faith-based institutions of higher education in significant and far-reaching ways. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said the ruling "will have seismic implications for religious liberty, setting off potentially years of lawsuits and court struggles, about what this means, for example, for religious organizations with religious convictions about the meaning of sex and sexuality." Other religious leaders praised the ruling. The Most Rev. George Lucey, presiding bishop at the American National Catholic Church, an independent institution founded by former Catholic members, said Christianity preaches love for one's neighbor, and therefore discrimination against LGBTQ Americans should not be tolerated. I don't think God cares about who we love, Lucey said. I think God just cares that we love everyone." The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings of the national Episcopal Church, which signed a friend of the court brief along with more than 720 interfaith leaders supporting the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case, celebrated the ruling in a Facebook post. As Christians, we bear a particular responsibility to speak out, because attempts to deny LGBTQ people their dignity and humanity as children of God are too often made in the name of God, Jennings said. This way of fear is not the way of Jesus Christ, who teaches us to cast out fear. An individual holds a rainbow flag during the NYC Pride Parade in New York on June 26, 2016. Danya Ruttenberg, a writer who serves as a rabbi and educator at Tufts and Northwestern universities in Massachusetts, said this is just the beginning of change. She said there must be provisions to stop homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry from occurring in religious communities. "I'm grateful that this ruling offers more workplace protection to human beings who are created in the divine image," Ruttenberg said. "But it is not absolute protection. It would be so easy to say that someone doesn't fit in the work culture." Atwood, the Orthodox rabbi, said he was glad LGBTQ people are now protected in the workplace. "No one has to do anything that they don't want," Atwood said. "But in the United States of America, which supports civil rights, if you're open for business, then you got to be open to everyone." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court's LGBTQ discrimination case divides faith leaders Description GIS 23 June 2020 : A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the acquisition of a harvester for the harvesting of sugar cane by small planters , was signed, yesterday, between the Mauritius Cooperative Agricultural Federation Ltd ( MCAF )and the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority, at Le Reduit. The Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr.Maneesh Gobin and the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives , Mr.Soomilduth Bholah, were present on the occasion. It is recalled that Budget 2019-2020 earmarked a sum of Rs 15 million for the acquisition of the equipment. Government has offered a grant of 51% of the sum disbursed for the acquisition of the equipment, while the remaining 49 % will be settled by the MCAF over a period of 7 years. The purchase of the harvester aims at helping small farmers of sugar cane improve their productivity by the adoption of modern and efficient small-scale sugar cane production technologies, due to the lack of labour availability especially during harvest season. In his address, Minister Bholah dwelt on the lack of interest given to agriculture and the dire lack of labour. According to him, the use of machinery for modern and efficient agricultural practices is the solution to this challenge. He expressed satisfaction as regards the acquisition of the equipment, which he emphasised will provide immediate and substantial relief to the farmers and the industry. Government, he added, is committed to take the necessary measures to address the difficulties of that sector, and the plight of small planters. Minister Bholah also reiterated Governments support to the sugarcane industry, and its commitment to build its long-term resilience as well as that of other sectors including the cooperative sector. As for Minister Gobin, he pointed out that the acquisition of the harvesting machine and the recent setting up of the Seedling Production Unit at the Maison des Eleveurs in Henrietta, form part of a plethora of projects aimed at developing the agricultural sector that is in the pipeline. The MoU, he said, specifies the proper utilisation and maintenance of the harvesting equipment so that optimum use of it is made by a maximum number of farmers. He observed that such a strong partnership between the two Ministries is based on new synergies geared towards the achievement of common goals of boosting the agricultural sector and strengthening food security in the country. Moreover, Minister Gobin announced that this partnership will translate in other collaborations namely between the Cooperative sector and the Agricultural Marketing Board as well as the Cooperative sector and fisheries. He underlined the need for conjoint efforts of all institutions and ministries to advance towards common goals for the progress and benefit of all. We want to see law enforcement made better, not torn down Public safety leaders who represent police officers in Minneapolis and other communities across Minnesota today collectively offered their voice and set the record straight on failed leadership that allowed riots and violence in Minneapolis for the past three weeks. Police officers share the goal of a safer Minneapolis and Minnesota built by trust and cooperation between police officers and the communities they serve. Every day members of law enforcement work to earn and build community trust. The anger of community members is real, they are hurting, and people are right to be upset about what happened to George Floyd, said Brian Peters, executive director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. Minneapolis Reaction: I was horrified when I saw the Floyd killing on video, said Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation. No one, including police officers in Minneapolis or any other city, should be above the law. To be clear: police officers who break the trust of the community and violate the law deserve to be held accountable for their actions. On Failed Leadership: Were here to set the record straight: Failed leadership let rioters destroy the city and businesses. But unfortunately, over the last three weeks, weve watched an ongoing barrage of media stories that continue to unfairly demonize an entire profession over the actions of a very few. I've had to explain to my children that they should still be proud of law enforcement work and it is to keep them and our community safe, no matter what someone shouted at a TV camera, said Sherral Schmidt, sergeant and vice president of the Minneapolis Police Federation. The only way we can begin the work to rebuild relationships and strengthen communities is if politicians stop characterizing law enforcement as violent racists and demonizing the police. There is a great deal of work toward building a safer Minneapolis, but it cannot happen until politicians stop pointing fingers and bring us all together to move us forward." "We want to see law enforcement made better, not torn down. The hateful things that many people - and frankly, many public officials - have said, is not right. There are many good ideas out there to help improve the profession, but many more that will only serve to break it down, said Kroll. Politicians in Minneapolis pulled back police officers without calling in support from the state and that is the reason we have hundreds of burned businesses across the city. They compounded problems caused by the death of George Floyd by allowing protests to turn into riots," said Anna Hedberg, sergeant, and director of the MPF. On Defunding or Abolishing the Police: Crime wont be wished away, and we cant simply abolish or defund police departments. Politicians who suggest this arent serious about solving problems in their community, said Rich Walker, officer and director of the MPF. On Union Contracts and Arbitration: The citizens of Minneapolis and Minnesota, frankly, deserve more from their political leaders than blaming the arbitration system of public employee unions. Every single public employee who belongs to a union is entitled to arbitration that has been developed over years of collective bargaining. Blaming a system that Democratic politicians have helped create and advocate for as the reason for problems ignores their role and responsibilities at a time when people want and need accountability, said Walker. What cannot get lost is that police chiefs are responsible for all decisions related to hiring and training. Police chiefs have the full authority to hire and fire officers and the Minneapolis Police Federation (the local union) has not been part of these activities. The Minneapolis Mayor and City Council have agreed, by vote, to every labor agreement which includes binding arbitration, and they can negotiate changes, said Kroll. "Trying to create the false narrative that our union defends any officer for any reason is clearly not true and misleading. Approximately two police officers a year go to arbitration, and a neutral third-party decides on outcome, said Schmidt. "All union contracts are negotiated between two parties, and we are certainly willing to have discussions about this process going forward. Its important to remember the contracts we have today were agreed to by city councils and union representatives alike for years. To blame only one side is simply leadership deflecting from responsibility. This proposed change to only one type of public employee union does not address the core issue of improving trust and simply erodes worker protection and due process, said Schmidt. The system of workplace justice which is closely akin to our criminal justice system in many respects requires that all public employees, even police officers, have the opportunity to contest discipline before a neutral third-party, said Schmidt. Research done with statistics provided by the Bureau of Mediation Services and given to the Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters Working Group shows that from 2006-2019; There were 67 arbitration awards involving the termination of a law enforcement officer. In these cases, termination was upheld in 37 (55.2%). During the same period, there were arbitration awards issued and reported on the BMS website in 421 termination cases for all other types of employees. In these cases, termination was upheld in 223 (52.9%). Conclusion: Arbitrators sustain the termination of law enforcement officers at a slightly higher rate than for other types of employees. Furthermore: in 14 years, there have been only three cases involving serious on-duty misconduct (excessive force and untruthfulness) in which the arbitrator sustained the charges upon which termination was based but imposed lesser discipline. This does not support the perception that the arbitration system is broken or the supposition that peace officers should have lesser rights than other public employees. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) has represented Minnesotas public safety officers for nearly 100 years and currently has 10,000+ members who hold active law enforcement licenses in the state of Minnesota. Our members include municipal police officers, county deputy sheriffs, correctional officers, and other public safety professionals. The MPPOA is the largest association representing public safety professionals in the State of Minnesota. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:46:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province previously hard hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, has offered financial support to help restaurants resume operations. Starting from Monday, Wuhan Rural Commercial Bank will offer 5 billion yuan (about 707 million U.S. dollars) in credit to catering service providers in the city, which can also apply for interest subsidies from the government. Wuhan has 51,000 registered food and beverage service providers, with some 500,000 people employed. Liu Lixin, head of the city's local financial work bureau, said to mitigate the impact of the epidemic, the city has earmarked over 60 billion yuan to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and private businesses in real economy sectors including catering services and offered 3 billion yuan in interest subsidies. To date, more than 6,700 businesses have received financial support exceeding 42 billion yuan in total. Restaurants have seen their dine-in business return to 40 percent of ordinary levels, while the figure for the food delivery sector has hit 80 percent, said Liu Guoliang, head of the food and beverage industry association of Wuhan. A liaison group sent by China's State Council to Hubei also requested the local government and enterprises to make use of the financial support from the central government, such as interest reductions and exemptions and extended repayments, to help local enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, overcome difficulties. Enditem The White House Correspondents' Dinner has been officially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. White House Correspondents' Association President Jonathan Karl sent a note out to membership Tuesday saying that organizers tried and failed to 'reconfigure the dinner.' 'But after consultation with medical experts, government authorities and our own members, weve concluded that it is just not possible to put on the kind of dinner that promotes the best in journalism and allows our guests to comfortably and safely enjoy themselves,' Karl said. Organizers of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner announced Tuesday that this year's affair would not go on because there was no way to pull off the crowded dinner safely Comedian Hasan Minhaj, who entertained guests at the 2017 White House Correspondents' Dinner, was set to return at the main comedy act 'Saturday Night Live's' Kenan Thompson was going to fill the new role of White House Correspondents' Dinner host at the 2020 dinner, which was officially cancelled on Tuesday The dinner was originally scheduled to be held in late April, but in early April with coronavirus stay-at-home orders in place the WHCA announced that it would be held on Saturday, August 29 instead. Traditionally, the president attends and thousands pack into the Washington Hilton to see a comedy bit from the commander-in-chief and then a famous comic. Awards are given to members of the White House press, while students receive WHCA scholarships. The black tie dinner was given the nickname 'Nerd Prom' for being the hottest ticket in town among the wonky Washington set, but during President Obama's eight years in office it attracted a laundry list of Hollywood celebrities, media moguls and reality TV stars. The Trump years had already presented a challenge to dinner planners as the president has refused to come ever year. A much smaller contingent of celebrities comes through. In 2018, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders came in the president's stead and was ridiculed by comedian Michelle Wolf while she sat several feet away. The controversy over Wolf's set led to the 2019 dinner entertainer being Ron Chernow, a best-selling author. Also in 2019, Trump told members of his administration not to come. The 2020 dinner was supposed to feature 'Saturday Night Live's' Kenan Thompson in a new role as dinner host, while comedian Hasan Minhaj would return to do a comedy bit. Minhaj was the dinner's entertainer in 2017, the president's first year in office, which marked the first time a president had skipped the dinner in decades. Karl informed WHCA members, which are journalists who cover the White House in varying capacities, that the organization still plans to have a 'virtual presentation' that would allow award and scholarship winners to be toasted. As the dinner tickets are the main source of revenue for the WHCA, Karl also asked for donations. 'We would also welcome any contributions to help us put together a virtual event to celebrate the crucial role of a free press in our democracy and to pay tribute to our award winners and our scholars,' the ABC News White House correspondent said. Markus Braun, former CEO of Wirecard, stands accused of market manipulation. (Peter Kneffel/picture alliance via Getty Images) Markus Braun, who resigned as chief executive of Wirecard (WDI.DE) last week, has been detained in Bavaria in connection with the balance-sheet scandal at the troubled German payments company. The prosecutor's office in Munich said Braun turned himself in on Monday evening and would appear before a judge today, who will decide on whether or not to keep him in custody. Braun, an Austrian, is being accused of inflating Wirecard's total assets and sales volume through feigned income from business in order to make the company more attractive to investors and customers. Wirecard was plunged into crisis last week after auditors EY refused to sign off on the companys 2019 accounts, saying they could not verify the existence of 1.9bn (1.7bn, $2.1bn) Wirecard claimed to hold in trust accounts overseas. Braun said on Friday that he couldnt rule out the company being the victim of fraud of considerable proportions. There is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9bn do not exist, the German tech company then said in a statement on Monday. READ MORE: Wirecard falls another 40% as it says missing 1.9bn doesn't exist Wirecard had claimed the 1.9bn was held in a trust account in the Philippines. However, over the weekend, banks in the Philippines said documents produced by Wirecard appeared to be false, and the Philippines central bank also said the money had never entered its financial system. Wirecards Chief operating officer Jan Marsalek was temporarily suspended last week. James Freis, who was meant to start as head of Wirecards new Integrity, Legal, and Compliance department in July, will now take over as interims boss of the company. The Wirecard scandal has rocked Germanys finance world. Were looking at a complete disaster, Felix Hufeld, head of German financial regulator BaFin, said on Monday. Its a shame that something like that happened. The company, which joined the German blue-chip DAX index in 2018, has seen its value all but vanish since news of the missing money broke last week. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is likely to tweak certain regulations related to open offers in its board meeting on June 25 by making some amendments to the Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeover (SAST) Regulations. Sebi may also provide temporary relaxation on the pricing of preferential share allotment. The market regulator may allow companies to consider the two-week average price for a preferential allotment, instead of the average price of the last six months. It may ask companies acquiring shares through open offers to pay 10 percent interest to shareholders in case of a delay. In its February 3 discussion paper, Sebi said that there have been instances of open offers getting delayed because of disagreement on valuations, investor complaints, delay in making payment by an acquirer upon tendering the shares under the open offer and delay in tendering process. However, Moin Ladha, Partner, Khaitan & Co, told Moneycontrol: A blanket interest payment requirement would create difficulties in scenarios like a frivolous complaint/litigation against the existing management which are not in any way attributable to the acquirer. Currently, only delays on account of non-receipts of statutory approvals fall under the ambit of the Takeover Code. Fortis Health Care investors stand to benefit if this change is made as Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo has stalled an open offer by Malaysias IHH Healthcare to acquire the shares of Fortis Healthcare. IHH Healthcare bought Fortis for $1.1 billion in a bidding process in August 2018. The Supreme Court had earlier withheld an open offer by IHH after Daiichi had filed an affidavit on January 15, 2019, to stall the transfer of funds from Fortis to Religare Health Trust (RHT). Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, the erstwhile promoters of Fortis Healthcare, had lost control of the company in February 2018 after lenders invoked the pledged shares with the approval of Supreme Court. Daiichi is trying to enforce a Rs 3,500-crore arbitration award against Singh brothers it got from Singapore tribunal. The Sebi board may also discuss Chinese investment through the Foreign Portfolio Investor or FPI route and other SAST amendment proposals, including allowing bulk and block deals for completion of acquisitions. "Sebi's plan to permit acquisition of shares during the offer period even when the acquisition is made through a block deal (like a deal executed through an Share Purchase Agreement on the stock exchange) or through a bulk deal (like placement of purchase orders on stock exchanges) will rectify the unintentional exclusion of these deals from Regulation 22 (2A) of the Takeover Code," Lalit Kumar, Partner, JSA Advocates and Solicitors, said. Another proposal likely to be considered is the deposition of 100 percent money into an escrow account for an indirect acquisition. Currently, this is applicable for direct acquisition only. Also Read | Is Sebi toothless when it comes to insider trading cases? As per the Sebi discussion paper, "The current framework of Takeover Regulations does not stipulate a mandatory requirement of deposit in an escrow account a sum equivalent to 100 percent of the consideration payable under an open offer, in case of an indirect acquisition of shares/voting rights in, or control over the target company where public announcement of the offer has been made under Regulation 13(2)(e). It is felt that the Takeover Regulations should not differentiate between direct acquisitions and indirect acquisitions when providing safeguards for shareholders who wish to avail the exit opportunity provided by an open offer". "However, enhancing the minimum requirement for indirect acquisitions may create difficulties in case of global transactions where the Indian connection is only incidental. In my view, appropriate safeguards already exist in the regulations and indirect acquisitions are deemed as direct acquisitions if prescribed thresholds are met," Ladha said. The Sebi board may also discuss relaxation on preferential allotment pricing. This could be similar to the relaxation given to stress assets. "Sebi may give temporary relaxation to companies for pricing preferential allotment based on the average price for the last two weeks instead of six weeks now. However, this is the industry demand and may be applicable for a specific time period. As share prices have come down significantly due to COVID-19, this relaxation will be helpful for raising money from the market," a source told Moneycontrol. Srinath Sridharan, independent markets commentator, told Moneycontrol: "In an open offer, if the rule of average price of six months is changed to anything around 2-3 months, it would help the promoters as the acquisition price could be lower, considering the lower valuations in the past 2-3 months." 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 As the current pandemic of COVID-19 continues to spread over the world, the lack of vaccines or therapeutic drugs has led to the use of convalescent plasma on an experimental basis. However, it is necessary to be able to measure how effective this therapy is without the need for biocontainment facilities. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in June 2020 uses serologic correlates to assess the efficacy of convalescent plasma. This will also help to classify donor plasma as more or less potent at neutralizing the virus. The first recorded use of convalescent plasma (CP) was over a hundred years ago. In fact, this won Emil Behring the first-ever Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1901. The use of plasma for this pandemic was spurred by the evidence of some therapeutic efficacy in the earlier coronavirus outbreaks, namely, SARS and MERS. This led to the relatively early consideration of its use in the current pandemic. How are Convalescent Plasma Donors Identified? Different methods are used to identify potential CP donors, such as diagnosis of acute infection by RT-PCR testing during the acute phase of infection, antibody testing by ELISA or other serologic assays in the convalescent period, or detecting neutralizing antibodies using virus microneutralization testing (MNT). The last-mentioned is the only assay for the functional efficacy of an antibody, in actually neutralizing the virus. This is, therefore, the gold standard of antibody testing. The disadvantage is that the use of live and, therefore, infectious viral particles mandates level biosafety 3 containment restrictions (BSL3). Moreover, this procedure takes a few days and is relatively involved. Neutralizing Titer Assessment The Austrian Red Cross Blood Service began the collection of CP by plasmapheresis, having inactivated the virus first, at the Vienna Blood Center. The first hundred units of CP were assayed using virus microneutralization testing (MNT), to look for functional or neutralizing antibodies. Their results show a high neutralizing antibody titer, with the mean MNT titer being 50%. In other words, the NT50 was about 1:230. These figures need to be assessed by international reference standards, which are unavailable as yet. However, for some recovered patients, with proof of COVID-19, one plasma unit lacked any neutralizing antibodies at all, while with 6 units, which comes to about 6% of the total, the NT50s were less than 1:23. The investigators also did a binding assay for the antibodies, on the same units of CP, to find an association between the MNT and ELISA. While the first is perhaps more reliable with respect to its function, the ELISA test is more readily available, and the lower threshold means that we can detect CP with lower potency, and define the threshold for the usability of CP for transfusion. Comparing MNT and ELISA The current study is focused on finding a more straightforward, scalable, and reliable test for antibodies in CP, on identifying potential donors, which compares favorably with the level of functional antibody activity detected by MNT. Secondly, the researchers aimed to evaluate donor characteristics associated with more potent CP, such as disease severity, duration from the earliest symptom to plasma harvesting, and donor age or sex. There were 83 samples for which both MNT and ELISA results were available. The researchers found a highly significant correlation, but with low magnitude. In order to achieve the aim of using ELISA to establish the lower limit for CP transfusion in COVID-19, the analysis was performed again, this time without units that had very high NT59 titers, such as >1:500. This came to 12 units or about 15% of the total. This improved the size of the correlation. The next step was to consider the Euroimmun ELISA 1.1 threshold as the qualification for CP transfusion. The researchers found that 6 units, or about 7%, would be left out, at a mean NT50 of 1:29. This would mean that the NT50 would go up from 1:233 for all the 83 CP collected to 1:249, for the remaining 77 units. The researchers comment, A final verdict about whether this cut-off is suitable for the use of CP in the treatment of COVID-19 will have to await an evaluation of clinical efficacy in correlation to these antibody measurements. Evaluating Donor Characteristics For the second aim, the researchers classified 90/100 CP donors as having WHO severity scores 1 and 2, with a mean NT50 of 1:208. There were 6 donors who had severe disease scores 3-6, with a mean NT50 of 1:696 more than 3 times as high as the first batch. The small number of high-titer donors makes it difficult to estimate the significance of this association with severe disease, unfortunately. A significant correlation was found between the donor age, but the predictive value was low. Thus, it may not be possible to pick CP donors based on their age. Thirdly, female donors had a significantly lower mean NT50 than male donors, with a difference of 1:220. However, the meaning of this difference in real life is not yet clear. The study concludes, We have established an ELISA-based correlate to the MNT, with a threshold proposal that could be used to eliminate lower titer units from the clinical supply for COVID-19 treatment. However, donor characteristics associated with a significantly higher antibody titer are not yet known. *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. JERUSALEM - International donors pledged over $130 million Tuesday to the United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees, an amount the organizations head says is encouraging but not enough to keep operations running through the end of the year. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency has faced a financial crisis since the United States pulled all funding in 2018, leaving the organization with a massive budgetary shortfall. Agency Director-General Philippe Lazzarini told reporters following a virtual fundraising conference that despite the very strong expression of support by international donors we are still in the dark and we do not know if our operations will run until the end of the year. He said the donations covered only a fraction of the roughly $400 million budget gap the agency is facing. UNRWA was established to aid the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in the war surrounding Israels establishment in 1948. The agency provides food, education, health care and other services for Palestinian refugees and their descendants now numbering some 5 million in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Lazzarini said there was no intention at this time to cut any of UNRWAs core services, but in reality, there is nothing left to cut without impacting the scope and the quality of the services. The U.S., once UNRWAs largest donor, pulled support in 2018 triggering a financial crisis and forcing other donors to plug an approximately $211 million hole in the agencys $1.2 billion budget. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was imperative that the international community continue in the effort to make UNRWA funding sustainable, predictable and sufficient. President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2018. WASHINGTON The White House will host Poland's President Andrzej Duda this week in what will be the first visit by a foreign leader since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Duda's Wednesday meeting with President Donald Trump, which was unexpectedly announced last week, comes four days ahead of Poland's presidential election on June 28. Senior administration officials told reporters on a Tuesday call that both U.S. and Polish delegations will be tested for the coronavirus ahead of the White House discussions. "The White House is continuing to implement very high health and safety procedures for all visitors. All members of both the Polish and US delegation are going to be tested for their protection, as well as for the protection of both presidents Trump and Duda," said one administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The person would not elaborate when asked by CNBC if either president or their aides would be wearing masks during the meetings. White House officials touted Warsaw's financial commitments to NATO as well as the approximately $16 billion in foreign military sales, which includes the U.S.' most expensive weapons system, the F-35 Lightning II fighter. VICTORIA - Health Minister Adrian Dix says he thinks there will "certainly" be protection for whistleblowers following an investigation into allegations of racism in British Columbia's health-care system. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VICTORIA - Health Minister Adrian Dix says he thinks there will "certainly" be protection for whistleblowers following an investigation into allegations of racism in British Columbia's health-care system. Metis Nation BC issued a statement Sunday after meeting with Dix calling for an anonymous tip line for witnesses and victims of racism. President Clara Morin Dal Col said she heard from numerous health-care workers in a 48-hour period that they reported racism to senior officials only to be told they were the problem. On Monday, Dix said he met with several Indigenous organizations over the weekend that will be consulted during the investigation, including Metis Nation BC. The meetings followed his announcement Friday that former children's advocate Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond will lead a probe into allegations that some emergency room staff played a game to guess the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients. Dix also said he has not been provided with two think tank reports on racism in B.C.'s health system, including one from last year, but they are evidence that there's more work to do. "There's been a lot of progress made and there are massive challenges still to come," he said during a briefing on COVID-19. The first report is a glossary used by an anti-racism think tank that convened in March 2019. It relies on data collected through an anti-racism training program for health workers. The second is a final report of the think tank following that conference, which Dix said was still in the draft phase. 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. The first report includes quotes from unnamed health workers describing instances of racism with results ranging from death to psychological harm. In one case, someone says an Aboriginal woman came in with trauma requiring extensive surgery that lasted most of the night. "As we were giving her a post-op bath (thinking she was under anesthetic) a racist remark was made at her bedside as we were busily doing our tasks at hand (she was on a ventilator and had a breathing tube in place). When I looked up into her eyes a few moments after the remarks were made, she had tears in her eyes. I was mortified and it was too late. The damage of those words said at her bedside was done," it says. When a woman came in nauseated and vomiting, someone said she must be drunk again. In fact, the woman rarely drank. She had cancer and her chemotherapy was making her ill, the comment says. The second report, called Dismantling Anti-Indigenous Racism within the Health Care System, includes recommendations that would require anti-racist cultural safety training as the minimum standard for all employees, establishing an Indigenous-led leadership body, and protocols for accountability. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:12:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Burak Akinci ANKARA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's major cross-border operation in northern Iraq aims to secure a new military ground and eliminate risks posed by Kurdish rebels at root as part of a recent strategy, military analysts said. The Turkish armed forces launched last week air and land operations to strike the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has hideouts in northern parts of neighboring Iraq. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said earlier that Turkey has hit so far over 700 targets as part of its Claw-Tiger operation, the largest in recent years, with commando troops carried by helicopters into the mountainous Haftanin region. The operation was initiated a few days after Operation Claw-Eagle, a major bombing campaign against PKK camps in northern Iraq, where "terrorist elements" are reported to have set up bases in the early 1990s. Turkish forces attacked Sinjar, the Qandil mountains, Zap and Hakurk with aerial and ground operations involving F-16 fighter jets, missile launchers, heavy artillery and special forces. The Turkish army has in the past launched many military operations targeting PKK hideouts and bases in northern Iraq, where the Kurds carried out attacks against security forces in Turkey. Erol Bural, a Turkish military analyst and former army officer, said that the main task of Turkish forces was to eliminate the security threat in northern Iraq and cut their supply lines and roads, so that PKK rebels would not pose a danger to Turkey. Ankara has over the years significantly deepened its ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) controlling northern Iraq. The KRG, which is tacitly endorsing Turkey's frequent airstrikes against PKK hideouts, according to observers, benefits from important Turkish investments and border trade. Reacting to reports that Turkey plans to build more military bases in the region after its current operation, Bural remarked it may be possible in order to expand Turkey's footprint there and to maintain Turkey's border security. Turkey has around 10 temporary bases in northern Iraq since 1995. Metehan Demir, a security analyst, said that Turkey has modified in recent years its strategy against the PKK, adopting a more proactive approach and striking the rebels before they infiltrate into Turkey to target security forces. "The plan is to strike first and eliminate the terrorist threat at its root. The latest offensives and incursions in northern Iraq are part of this new strategy," he said in televised remarks. Demir argued that with this fresh offensive in Iraq, Turkey would be able to concentrate more on Syria and Libya, two other conflict arenas where Turkey has also deployed troops and equipment. "This operation should not only be considered as a simple cross-border operation," noted Demir, pointing out that it should be seen as part of Ankara's effort to build a long security corridor extending from the Iranian border to Syria. The incursions launched in Iraq in the last few years have caused major losses in PKK ranks, according to Turkish officials. The movement which had around 4,000 militants a few years ago, now has around 400 militants and many commanders have been killed in recent years, said Bural. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. Meanwhile, Turkey's latest operation has drawn anger from Baghdad and Iraq's Arab allies, who are critical to Turkey's broader regional ambitions. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned twice the Turkish ambassador to Iraq, accusing the operation as "violations of Iraqi sovereignty by bombing and attacking within Iraq's borders." The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also condemned the operation, voicing support for Baghdad in its steps to defend its sovereignty. Enditem Sahaya Novinston Lobo By Express News Service CHENNAI: A 74-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus in Chennai has been missing for over 12 days after being taken to a government hospital for admission. The man, Adikesavan, tested positive for coronavirus on June 10 and was taken for a screening the next day by corporation officials to a centre in Ekkaduthangal and subsequently to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. He was taken along with five others but he did not have a mobile phone with him. Meanwhile, Adikesavan's son, was under the impression that his father was at KMC as the sanitary inspector confirmed that he was in the hospital bed. The inspector also claimed to have dropped the patients (including Adikesavan) at the queue in the X-ray section and then left. "We receive a list of people admitted in various Government Hospitals from the screening center and not from the Hospitals. Whenever his son would ask me I would contact another covid-19 patient who was accommodated along with Adikesavan. As he said the elderly person was there I too trusted him and let his son know," said the inspector. ALSO READ | Over 40 days after elderly COVID patient goes missing, Chennai corporation still has no clear answers Sensing suspicion, Adikesavan's son sent a picture of his father to the fellow patient who then confirmed that his father was not in the same room and it was later found that there was no record of Adikesavan being admitted to the hospital at all. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Dr P Vasanthamani, Dean of KMC said, "The elderly person did not come inside our campus. If he had come there would be some proof of it. There are three different registers we maintain to monitor the COVID-19 patients and his name is not in any of those. He might have gone missing on the way or before entering the premises." The son has since lodged a complaint at the St Thomas Mount police station from where he was sent to the Kilpauk police station and an FIR was finally lodged after two days. (If you receive any information about Adikesavan, please call on - 7418975507) TDT | Manama The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the deaths of three patients who succumbed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday. The victims were a 46-yearold female citizen, a 69-year-old male expatriate and a 55-yearold male expatriate. Their passing brought the virus-related casualty count to 60 overall in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Ministry expressed its heartfelt condolences to the victims families at this difficult time. The victims, along with all other active COVID-19 cases, had been placed in isolation and received extensive 24hour treatment from a specialised medical team, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Ministry announced that out of 7,782 COVID-19 tests carried out yesterday, 415 new cases have been detected among 225 expatriate workers, 179 contacts of active cases, and 11 travel-related. Their detection brought the overall confirmed cases in Bahrain to over 20,000 ever since the first cases were registered. A total of 503 people recovered from the coronavirus infection yesterday, bringing the total number of cured patients to 15,790, Bahrains health ministry announced on its official Twitter account. The total number of currently active cases in the Kingdom has risen to 15,790 of which 181 are receiving treatment, with 33 in critical condition. 5,448 cases are currently stable. As for the total number of tests that have been conducted in the country, the tally has reached 470,409. Overall cases in the six nation GCC now top 374,000 and deaths reached 2,132 NEW YORK - The couch is still in storage, but the morning team on Fox & Friends returned for the first time Monday to the midtown Manhattan studio vacated in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. A few blocks west, there was a similar welcome for two-thirds of the CBS This Morning hosts, who had taken brief trips to Washington and a New York theatre before settling in at home after being chased out on March 18. I cant even tell you how good I feel today, said CBS Gayle King, who made little secret of her distaste for working at home. Monday represented a key phase in New York Citys reopening, with many offices bringing employees back for the first time. Despite the CBS and Fox moves, most news employees continue to work remotely, and the television programs that originate here have a patchwork of approaches that have quickly become familiar. For instance, ABCs World News Tonight anchor David Muir has remained in his upper West Side studio, since he has no guests to interact with on-set. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt works from home, while CBS Evening News anchor Norah ODonnell works out of the networks Washington bureau. Although journalists are exempt from stay-at-home orders, most networks have a skeleton crew of behind-the-scenes workers in the office. CNNs evening lineup, including Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon, do their shows from flash studios in New Yorks Hudson Yards office complex, where they are the only people in the room as they work. Chris Cuomo is similarly back after several weeks confined to his basement with COVID-19. A majority of the show hosts on MSNBC including Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist of Morning Joe work remotely. Fox News prime-time anchors Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham work out of home studios. Martha MacCallum returned to Foxs offices last week, while daytime hosts Bill Hemmer and Ed Henry never left. While Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade of Fox & Friends were in the same studio Monday, they may as well have been in different zip codes: they were stationed behind different desks. To be in the building, you need to have a mask on, Doocy said. Were free not to wear it on the air because were socially distant. Doocy last month said that he and his colleagues were not in the same room because the government wont let us. He later corrected himself to say Fox was simply following government protocols and guidelines. Other morning shows have varied approaches. ABCs Good Morning America has been back in its Times Square studio, but without a live audience and without the immune-compromised Robin Roberts, who works out of her home. Hoda Kotb of NBCs Today show has worked out of that shows Rockefeller Center studio, but most of her colleagues are at home. CBS This Morning isnt fully back. Although King and Anthony Mason sat at the same desk on Monday, colleague Tony Dokoupil remained in Brooklyn, where he shares a home studio with his wife, MSNBCs Katy Tur. Were all being extra, extra, extra safe, King said. But we are really thrilled to be here. BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd June, 2020) Civil society representatives lodged a civil complaint with the Paraguayan Prosecutor General's Office over quarantine violation against President Mario Abdo Benitez and Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni, the Ultima Hora newspaper reported. It cited attorney Ester Roa as saying on Monday morning that the complaint had been filed for alleged actions related to violation of the lockdown measures imposed due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The complaint is based on publications and photographs in various media, where the president and the minister participate in a number of official events, without observing epidemiological measures. Paraguay has recorded 1,392 cases of COVID-19, with 903 recoveries and 13 deaths. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will hold trilateral talks on Tuesday through video conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as part of the RIC (Russia-India-China) meet chaired by Russia at the foreign ministerial level. Bilateral issues such as the raging Sino-Indian border tensions will not be part of the agenda of the meet which will focus on the RIC response to the COVID pandemic. The meet also underscores the crucial role that the Russians are playing now in the RIC, given the deadly clash exactly a week ago between Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan valley in the Ladakh sector. It is also being seen with great significance that Russiathe current RIC Chair---has shown a great deal of interest in ensuring RIC dialogue at a time when two of the RIC members are at loggerheads over border issues. Last Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev had tweeted, The existence of the RIC is an undisputable reality, firmly fixed on the world map. As for the current stage of the trilateral cooperation, there are no indications that it might be frozen. The Russian Ambassador had also referred to India as a strategic parter while welcoming Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Moscow on Tuesday to witness the Great Victory Day Military Parade there to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the erstwhile Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the second world war in 1945. It may be recalled that following the deadly clash that took place between Indian and Chinese troops on the night of June 15, Jaishankar had also spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on June 17 and both sides had agreed to de-escalate the situation. This will therefore be the second time in less than a week that the Indian and Chinese foreign ministers will be interacting, albeit on a trilateral agenda this time. Last Thursday, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said, The RIC meeting is scheduled on June 23. Russia is the Chair this year. Russia has called for a special session of the RIC to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory in the second world war over Nazism and creation of the UN. It will be the first meeting of the RIC Foreign Ministers that will be taking place through video conferencing. The EAM will be participating in this meeting. (On) the agenda, the three ministers are expected to discuss the current situation of the global pandemic and the challenges of global security, financial stability and RIC cooperation in that context. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was quoted last week by the Russian media as saying, The RIC agenda does not involve discussing issues that relate to bilateral relations of a country with another member of this format. The White House has extended the freeze on issuance of "green cards" for new immigrants and suspended range of work visas for foreigners, including all H-1B and H-4 (for H-1B spouses) till the end of 2020 in order to protect jobs of American citizens lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump had initially suspended the issuance of the visas for three months, but now has extended it till the end of the current year. "We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens," Trump said in a statement following the order. "The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L nonimmigrant visa programs, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the extraordinary economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak," he said in the order. According to the White House, the visa suspension will not affect those already in the US on the visas while the Optional Practical Training (OPT) that most foreign students are eligible for after they graduate in the US also remains unaffected. Those visa holders who are outside the US will not be able to return to the US. The new immigration order signed by Trump also suspends the L1 visas (for intracompany transfer) and J1 visas used by doctors and researchers to enter the country but exception exist for those already in the US at the moment. According to a senior administration official, the measures, decreed through an executive order by President Trump, would be temporary (till December 31), and would free up 525,000 jobs for American workers. Trump also issued directions for a broader reform of the H-IB visa regime that will replace the current lottery system with a merit based system that will favor those who are offered the highest wages and target doctors, lawyers, academics, and highly skilled people. "This will drive up both wage level and skill level. It will also eliminate competition with Americans for entry level jobs," the official said, adding that the President had also directed that all loopholes enabling outsourcing of jobs should be closed. According to the official, the new reforms proposed by Trump will ensure that jobs go to those who are paid the highest wages and 'America gets the best and brightest talent', the official added. Trump said that between February and April of 2020,more than 20 million United States workers lost their jobs in key industries where employers are currently requesting H-1B and L workers to fill positions. Also, the May unemployment rate for young Americans, who compete with certain J nonimmigrant visa applicants, has been particularly high 29.9 percent for 16 19 year olds, and 23.2 percent for the 20-24 year old group. 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 Times are tough, indeed both for adults as well as kids. While the pandemic already wreaked havoc on everyones mental health, the recent death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in shocking circumstances has got parents worried for their young ones. It was reported that his death led to four minor children end their lives for different reasons, putting the focus back on how to educate children about mental health. Celebrities, too, share being concerned. Actor Gurdip Punjj, a mother of two, Meher (10) and Mahir (5), shares that Rajputs demise had affected her daughter. Meher cried when she came to know about it. Later, she started asking me questions like why this happened? Why do people do this and so on. Weve to understand that their mind is really fragile, she says. Punjj adds that she tried explaining things in a way that shed understand. I told her that its important to be with your family, tell everything to your parents. She has been sleeping with me these days, and our night conversations are the best, as she opens up a lot, shares the actor.says the actorshe says. A healthy communication is the key. Actor Ashish Chowdhry who is raising his own kids Agasthya (10), Salara and Sammah (5), and his late sisters children Kanishq (21) and Ananya (17), too agrees. Monica and her husband, lost their lives in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. We need to talk to them often, answer their queries even when they ask simplest of things like why is the colour blue called blue or red called red. And then also discuss with them about career, love, life etc. The second thing is that one needs to explain things in a way that it sinks in. Also, its important to maintain that equilibrium between being friends with your children, and being strict, he asserta. The importance of failure in our lives needs to be understood is something that Juhi Parmar focuses on. In school, we teach our children about achievers but they should also be taught about others who tried but failed. When we play any game, Samairra (7) always wants to win. But I told her she needs to fight for it. If she wins, good, if she doesnt even after trying hard shes still a winner, she adds. Parmar feels that too much expectations can often bog children down. Samairras career choices change every week. Now she wants to become a baker. She recently asked, You dont want me to become an actor right? I told her if you become one, Id be happy or else Id love to eat cakes baked by you, she smiles. Sometimes,actors feel keeping their children awry from the glamour world and limelight can also be a good way to let them feel normal. Actor Indraneil Sengupta does something like that for his daughter Meera (8). We want to bring her up like any other child. If there are differences between us, we make sure they dont come out in front of her. She has limited screen time, channels and shows she can watch. No social media for her, he says. Sengupta shares that once Meera said that her school friends say shes very stylish and her parents are millionaires. Children think like that about actors. So, Barkha (Bisht; wife) explained to her that we arent rich and that we have a sense of style. While we tell her when to study, we also let her to be herself. Theres no formula for parenting, you learn it on the job, he ends. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid the heartwrenching health crisis, Brad Pitt offered the biggest surprise to his fan through "United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes." On Sunday night, the two-hour program aired and featured Harry Connick Jr., his daughter Georgia and a camera crew as they went on a road trip from New York City to Connick's hometown of New Orleans. According to Connick, he "called some celebrity friends" to thank the frontliners in person, including Brad. The actor joined stars like Sandra Bullock in spreading positivity during the pandemic, and Connick started by contacting Brad's New Orlean-based fan named Darnell Rudolph. Connick told Rudolph that their dedication as frontliners is heroic because they are "conscious of the COVID, and they still come out to do their job." He then handed the iPad to the lucky fan and let The "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" actor start the exclusive video conference. Pitt began by asking how Rudolph is coping as a waste management worker during the pandemic. According to the fan, he, his wife and their four kids have been playing a lot of cards and Monopoly. He also made the actor's heart flutter when he mentioned that his family has been watching a lot of Brad's movies, to which the actor apologized for having "only a few of them." Though Rudolph was supposed to be the star that moment, he took his time to compliment Brad's works after Hurricane Katrina devastated the state in 2005. To recall, the actor spearheaded the building of dozens of eco-friendly homes in New Orleans, which truly helped the victims of the calamity. "It's so appreciated," Pitt responded. "I got such a love for that city, and we sure appreciated what you're doing," Rudolph mentioned. Meanwhile, Bullock also joined the project and talked to Joy Palmer, a Regional Transit Authority manager whose husband died because of COVID-19. "I just wanted to take this time to thank you for your service and your contributions to keep everyone safe," Bullock told Palmer. Brad Is A Fan Of Surprises! Prior to his appearance on the "Tribute To Unsung Heroes," Brad Pitt has surprised his fans multiple times in the past. For instance, during the exclusive fan screening of "World War Z" at Atlantic Station Regal 16 Theatres in 2013, the actor shocked the moviegoers by going up on the theater's stage while screaming "Hello, Atlanta!" "Thank you for coming," the actor exclaimed. "It's really nice to be here. Thank you Atlanta! Since I'm in Georgia, I gotta do a little shout out to the Braves." He also surprised his fans and followers when he attended Kanye West's Sunday Service in September 2019. The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" actor also caught his fans off guard when he graced the rapper's weekly gathering in Watts, California with his presence. According to TMZ, it was the second time Brad attended the weekly concert. What made his appearance even more shocking to fans was the fact that he called himself agnostic. Later, he also identified himself as an atheist. "I don't think anyone really knows. You'll either find out or not when you get there, until then there's no point thinking about it," Brad said in 2019. READ MORE: Brad Pitt Heartbreak: Angelina Jolie Makes SHOCKING Revelation About Split With Pitt [June 23, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a National Class Action Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) 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 Cheetah Mobile Inc. ("Cheetah Mobile" or "the Company") (NYSE: CMCM) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Cheetah Mobile 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/cheetah-mobile-inc/. 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 February 21, 2020, the Company disclosed that its Google (News - Alert) Play Store, Google AdMob and Google AdManager accounts were disabled on February 20, 2020 "because some of the Company's apps had not been compliant with Google policies, resulting in certain invalid traffic." On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.61, or nearly 7%, to close at $2.99 per share on February 21, 2020, thereby injuring investors. On June 10, 2020, Cheetah Mobile issued a press release to announce its first quarter 2020 financial results. Therein, the Company reported that revenues for its mobile utility product business "decreased by 62.6% year over year to RMB54.3 million in first quarter of 2020 . . . mainly due to the suspension of the Company's advertising collaborations with Google." On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.25, or more than 7%, over two consecutive trading sessions to close at $3.10 per share on June 11, 2020, thereby injuring investors further. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Cheetah Mobile 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]w.com. 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/20200623005232/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Beijing has an obligation to join Washington and Moscow at negotiations to replace a nuclear disarmament treaty, the United States said Tuesday, a day after talks with Russia in Vienna. They (China) have an obligation to negotiate in good faith with us and the Russians, American envoy to the negotiations Marshall Billingslea told reporters. They stood up not just the United States and Russia but they stood up the entire world, he said. On Monday American and Russian delegations met in Vienna to discuss the New START treaty, which limits each side to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads but which is due to run out in February. US President Donald Trump has insisted China should be involved in the talks, but Beijing has shown no interest in taking part. Billingslea said another round of negotiations could take place towards the end of July but admitted it could once again be restricted to Washington and Moscow and didnt rule out an extension of the bilateral accord. The Russian Federation did not agree with my request to pressure China to join as a responsible party into these talks, but they also... are not opposed to China joining, Billingslea said. However, on Tuesday the Russian envoy to the talks Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said it was unrealistic to count on Chinas participation. Billingslea said the American delegation had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time presenting detailed intelligence -- the first time in fact in recent memory that we have done so with Russia -- regarding... the destabilising and worrisome crash programmes of third parties, Billingslea said, in another oblique reference to China. He said that the US delegation had been left with the clear impression that Russia would favour a multilateral format that would include European nuclear powers France and the United Kingdom. The US would not rule out this prospect, Billingslea said, but stressed that the United Kingdom and France are in a very different situation than the arms-racing Chinese. He also confirmed that the US delegation had put out Chinese flags in the negotiating room before the Russian delegation arrived. Shortly before talks started on Monday, Billingslea tweeted a picture of an empty negotiating table decked with Chinese flags, prompting a scornful reaction from Chinese diplomats. Experts say the Trump administrations insistence that China should be a part of the talks casts doubt on whether it is serious about reaching an accord. Canada to face consequences when China-US ties improve in the future Global Times By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 20:33:40 Canadian exporters needn't over-interpret move Tighter rules and stepped-up scrutiny of food imports are steps China is taking to curb a resurgence of COVID-19, rather than an excuse to target any specific country for a political reason as some Canadian exporters have claimed, Chinese experts said, urging exporters to respect the nation's rules if they want to make profits in China. These exporters' claims also reflect strains in the China-Canada relationship due to Canada's role in the arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, which ought to be resolved quickly to avoid further damaging bilateral trade ties, experts said. According to CBC News, Canadian lobster exporters to China have run into a "border roadblock," as Chinese importers have started demanding a signed declaration that Canadian live and processed lobster is free of COVID-19. The report, citing a local lobster trader, described the new declaration as "a bold thing that Canadian exporters should push back." The trader in the report declined to sign the declaration, as it makes "Canadian companies liable in the Chinese court system if there is a problem." A manager with a major seafood import company in China told the Global Times on Monday that the requirement came from the Chinese customs. "The required declaration applies to all seafood imports from all countries, with no differentiations," the manager, who do not want to be named, said. The new procedures come after an outbreak of coronavirus infections linked to a Beijing whole food market last week. China is stepping up inspections of fresh and frozen meat and seafood, imported products in particular, after the new outbreak. The rule also aims to emphasize the import traceability of all quarantine inspection products, which could encourage the public to have confidence in seafood consumption, the manager said. "For all products placed on our online stores, we will attach the foreign inspection and quarantine certificate," said the manager. A major Chinese salmon importer told the Global Times on Monday that all of its suppliers are cooperative and willing to sign the declaration as they "want to do business with China." The company said, compared with Canada, it prefers to do business with countries like Chile, which has a mature, industrialized industry chain and is also cooperative with and respectful of Chinese regulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is communicating with China's customs to "provide the requested assurances with respect to Canadian exports," according to the CBC News report. It's Canada's choice to export to China, and Canada needs to abide by Chinese regulations, which may be adjusted when necessary in accordance with the Covid-19 situation, Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday. "Since the Canadian exporters are so confident about their management, why don't they have the courage to sign the declaration", Bai asked, noting that Canada ought to understand that "China has such a regulation only because there is a risk of the virus spreading." Moreover, tougher inspection in China may not be the major reason for a declining share of Canadian lobsters. According to the Canadian Lobster Commission, the country exported 4,323 tons of lobsters to China in January; while in March, the amount fell to 473 tons. Last month, a Canadian court defied public expectations and ruled to keep Meng in custody, a move which shows that Canada has surrendered its self-proclaimed judicial and diplomatic independence to the US and seriously battered the China-Canada ties. Experts warned that the Canadian side should be fully aware that its attitude in Meng's case is the only roadblock between the two countries. If the Canadian side does not remove it, a disruption in the lobster trade might be just the tip of the iceberg in bilateral trade, as fraught ties have already undermined confidence in business communities on both sides. The US and Canada abused their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen without cause, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said earlier. "The Canadian side should immediately correct its mistake, release Meng and ensure her safe return to China at an early date, so as to avoid any continuous harm to China-Canada relations," said Zhao. "Canada could have been a beneficiary of the China-US trade war, given its complementary economic structure, but it chose to blindly follow the steps of the Trump administration. Canada will definitely face a harsh consequence from Beijing when China-US ties improve in the future," Mei Xinyu, a research fellow at Ministry of Commerce's Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speaking at the OSCE Human Dimension meeting in 2020, the Holy See delegation reiterated the media's responsibility in providing "fair and accurate" reports on religious issues. No to intolerance that nowadays is particularly pervasive in the digital world. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "It is unacceptable to hide behind freedom of expression as a justification for discrimination, hostility or violence towards a religion or its members," stated a Holy See delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, during the second additional meeting on the Human Dimension in 2020. The session was dedicated to the themes of freedom of expression, media and information. The Holy See reiterated the medias responsibility in giving "fair and accurate" reports on religious issues, allowing community members to express their opinions and encouraging the development of specific guidelines. The delegation also expressed its categorical rejection of intolerance which nowadays is particularly pervasive in the digital world. Social networks, in fact, can become harmful tools and vehicles of hate and denigrating messages. To avoid this, Internet service providers and social network services should be encouraged to adopt clear, transparent and non-discriminatory standards which prevent any form or behavior marked by intolerance. "To advance the truth, freedom, justice and solidarity in society, the media, in any form must be protected - the Vatican delegation said - and the freedom that the international community has recognized must be guaranteed. At the same time, it must be recognized that freedom of expression, like any human right, has responsibilities that cannot be ignored ". The Holy See above all reaffirmed the ethical foundation of the media in society, centered on the "person and community" purpose and measure of the use of the means of communication for integral human development, because "the media do nothing on their own; they are tools, instruments, used as people choose to use them. " In conclusion, a reflection on what happened in times of pandemic, where inequalities in access to information have placed even more people in situations of vulnerability and at greater risk of suffering, in particular in societies and contexts of poverty. The digital divide between rich and poor, the Holy See said, could cost lives, especially when crucial information is not timely. Without access to responsible, transparent and up-to-date information, even wider inequalities are created in the midst of already extensive suffering. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-22 22:57:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Workers returning to their jobs board the special train G9383 from Fuyang to Ningbo, Zhejiang, with their families at Fuyang West Railway Station in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Wei/Xinhua) BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China will ramp up efforts to help impoverished migrant workers find or secure jobs. The move aims to ensure the migrant labor force remains stable or improves this year, according to a circular, jointly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. Priority should be given to organizing the disadvantaged labor force to find jobs away from home, and the distribution of job information among them should be strengthened, the circular said. Amid the country's efforts to win the battle against poverty, some 27.51 million poor migrant workers from 25 provincial-level regions had left their hometowns for work as of May 31, accounting for more than the total last year, data showed. The circular stressed that the total number of impoverished migrant workers from less-developed central and western regions working in more developed eastern regions this year should be no less than that of last year. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order temporarily suspending work visas and barring hundreds of thousands of foreigners from coming to work in the United States, part of a broad effort by the administration to dramatically limit entry into the country during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, senior administration officials said Monday. The restrictions would block entry into the U.S. under the H-1B visa program for high-skilled workers and would also affect several other categories of visas. The order, which has been expected for several weeks, is fiercely opposed by a broad swath of businesses including high-tech companies in Silicon Valley, manufacturers and others who say it will block their ability to recruit critically needed workers from overseas countries for jobs that Americans are not willing or capable of performing. Stephen Miller, the architect of the presidents assault on immigration, has pushed for years to limit or eliminate the worker visas, arguing that they harm employment prospects for Americans. In recent months, he has argued that the economic distress caused by the virus has made it even more important to turn off the spigot of foreign entry into the United States. In April, the president signed an executive order that suspended for 60 days the issuance of green cards to foreigners looking to live in the United States. But at the time, Miller and the president bowed to pressure from the business community to avoid imposing limits on the worker visas. Mondays order extends the green-card prohibition in addition to suspending the issuance of many of the worker visas. In addition, the administration officials said that the president will order new regulations to permanently change worker visas in the future so that foreign job offers go to more highly paid, highly-skilled workers that will compete less with Americans. The order includes exceptions for some categories of workers, including health care professionals needed to combat or do research about the virus. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. June 24, 2020, Gaithersburg, MD - US based non-profit Institute for In Vitro Sciences Inc. (IIVS) has received its first funding from a Chinese owned and operated beauty tech company, Shenzhen Basixing Technology Co., Ltd. The occasion is significant as it demonstrates the growing desire for non-animal test methods in China and the importance of the IIVS program to help implement them. Shenzhen Basixing Technology (Shenzhen, China) focuses on the application of new technologies in both beauty care products and devices. Their first brand, Kitty Annie, was created to meet the needs of young consumers of generation Z. "We are a group of young people who have strong beliefs in science, technology and art. Through the combination of active cosmetics and devices, our goal is to provide a unique beauty experience with perceivable benefits for our consumers while promoting transparency and sustainability." states Dr. Zhi Pan, chief scientist at Shenzhen Basixing. "IIVS' promotion of non-animal tests has brought real change to China and companies like ours will be able to avoid animal testing in the future. This supports the core values of our company. We are very proud to be the first Chinese company to support the mission of IIVS." IIVS has been working in collaboration with China's top regulatory agency responsible for cosmetics supervision to transfer non-animal test methods through outreach and training programs. These training programs have helped to establish the national Key Laboratory for Animal Alternative Testing for Cosmetics at the Zhejiang Institute for food and drug control (Hangzhou, China). Regulatory acceptance of these methods will allow companies to register cosmetics without animal testing in the future. Access to these methods also means that Chinese companies can export products to markets that prohibit animal testing of cosmetics such as the European Union. "To date our outreach program has been funded primarily by multi-national companies. We are delighted that Shenzhen Basixing and Kitty Annie have chosen to demonstrate their commitment to non-animal testing with a contribution to our program." says Erin Hill President, IIVS. ### About the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) IIVS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of non-animal test methods. Founded in 1997, IIVS is recognized as a leading provider of in vitro testing in support of toxicological safety evaluations. Rigorous scientific programs coupled with educational and outreach initiatives have established IIVS as a global leader in the advancement of alternatives to animal testing. For more information, visit us at iivs.org. About Shenzhen Basixing Technology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Basixing Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese beauty tech company focusing on innovative technologies in beauty care. Kitty Annie, as the first brand of Basixing has been launched in 2020. This brand aims to create unique skin care experience for consumers through the combination of beauty devices and active cosmetics with commitment in transparency and sustainability. For more information, please visit kittyannie.com/. Media Contact: Erin Hill President, IIVS Phone: 301-947-1281 Ehill@iivs.org Esri, the global leader in GIS, location intelligence, and mapping technology, today announced that the independent market research firm Forrester recognized the company in The Forrester Wave: Location Intelligence Platforms, Q2 2020 Evaluation. The report acknowledges Esri's leadership in location intelligence technology and highlights the company's long-term commitment to the development of a shared global geospatial infrastructure. The Forrester report notes, "The key strength of Esri's platform is its complete set of location intelligence capabilities. It has depth and strength in multiple areas, including data management, data products, spatial visualization and analytics, and location intelligence execution." "We think Forrester's recognition demonstrates that Esri is providing a truly scalable GIS platform," said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. "With the world becoming more interconnected each day, the ability to understand, organize, visualize, and utilize spatial data will be increasingly critical, and we are happy to contribute with our platform." In the report, authored by James McCormick, Esri received the highest ranking in the spatial visualization and analytics and location intelligence data management criteria. Esri also received the highest score in the Current Offering and Market Presence categories. "We are continually improving our location intelligence platform, ArcGIS, by innovating new tools and capabilities," said Dirk Gorter, Esri head of product management. "Esri provides a complete location intelligence platform that is used across many industries, supporting customers with a range of needs and applying geospatial analytics for market and customer analytics, suitability analysis (e.g., retail site selection), spatial data management (e.g., utilities), and logistics and supply chain management. Esri's platform is also used for emergency response efforts, most recently in the fight against the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic." To learn more about Esri's ranking in The Forrester Wave: Location Intelligence Platforms, Q2 2020 Evaluation, visit go.esri.com/ForresterWave2020. About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the US, as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the US Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright 2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005878/en/ Contacts: Jo Ann Pruchniewski Public Relations, Esri Mobile: 301-693-2643 Email: jpruchniewski@esri.com Coal mining will remain a major industry in Queensland for "years to come" as the state exported a record amount of coal in 2019. Queensland exported 226 million tonnes of coal last year, the equivalent weight of 815,000 Airbus A380 superjumbos. Coal carriers are loaded Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal jetties near Mackay. Credit:Daryl Wright Data from Queensland's ports revealed total coal exports of 226 million tonnes last financial year, 2018-19, beating the 223 million record set the year before. Most Queensland coal was exported to Japan, followed by China, India, Korea and Singapore. Boris Johnson has rejected demands for an urgent independent inquiry into his governments handling of the coronavirus crisis. The prime minister was challenged to call an inquiry by Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey, but insisted it would not currently be a good use of official time. The clash came as MPs debated the prime ministers dramatic relaxation of lockdown measures in England from 4 July. The changes, which allow pubs, restaurants and cafes to reopen and cut the two-metre social distancing rule to one-metre plus, were given a rapturous reception in the House of Commons by Tory MPs who queued up to invite the PM to visit venues in their constituencies. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that Mr Johnson was trying to do the right thing and said his party would back the government in implementing the moves. He said parliament had to recognise the risks of inaction if businesses were kept closed and families apart. How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Show all 12 1 /12 How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Photos Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters How photographer captured baby image in coronavirus lockdown Reuters But he warned: Any unlocking carries risks. It has to phased, managed and carefully planned. It needs to be based on scientific evidence, properly communicated, accompanied by robust track and trace systems. And there must be support for local councils and communities to respond quickly and decisively if there any fresh outbreaks. Sir Keir warned that Labour continued to have very serious concerns about the NHS test and trace system, particularly the failure to develop a smartphone app which would alert people if they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive. Davey told MPs that it was time to learn the lessons from the governments widely-criticised response to the outbreak. The acting Lib Dem leader called on Mr Johnson to urgently set up an independent inquiry into the Governments handling of this pandemic But Mr Johnson replied: Im sure there will come a moment where lessons need to be learned, were learning them indeed the whole time, but I do not consider at the moment, that a full-scale national inquiry is a good use of official time. The Scottish National Partys leader in Westminster Ian Blackford noted that the relaxations do not apply north of the border and said that public safety should remain the governments top priority. The virus has not gone away, said Mr Blackford. The margins for ensuring the virus does not take off again remain tight. Keeping people safe remains the first priority. We cannot put a price on human life. Mr Johnson responded: He is right to express the caution that he does, hes right to anticipate the risk of second spikes. And that is, Im afraid, that we will see future outbreaks and I must be absolutely clear with the House about that. We will see future outbreaks and we will be in a much better position now to control those outbreaks. The PM agreed with Tory backbencher Gareth Johnson, who said people should do their patriotic best for Britain by going to the pub. Yes I want to see people out in the shops it is a fantastic thing to see,he said. Yes I want to see people taking advantage of hospitality again, a wonderful thing. Yes I want to see people enjoying friends and family again but theyve got to do it in a responsible way and observing social distancing. Mr Johnson told Hove MP Peter Kyle to show some guts after he pressed the prime minister on how destination communities like the south coast resort can be kept safe as restrictions are eased. Mr Kyle said: There will be people who will be meeting and drinking on places like the seafront and in parks where it will be impossible to get the names and addresses of every customer. There will be other pinch points where lots of people from various destinations will be rubbing up against each other. What will (the prime minister) do in the absence of the promised app to make sure that these communities are destinations for investment and not destinations for Covid? Mr Johnson responded: I think I will be calling on local representatives such as himself to show some guts and determination and to champion their communities as venues for people to return to and to support. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Advertisement Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr, channeled her late father at the funeral service for Rayshard Brooks on Tuesday as she called for a 'revolution of values' across the country to end systematic racism, nearly two weeks after the 27-year-old black man was gunned down by a white police officer. Speaking at the invitation-only ceremony at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church that was once led by her dad, King condemned the recurring killings of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. 'We are here because individuals continue to hide behind badges and trainings and policies and procedures rather than regarding the humanity of others in general and Black lives specifically,' Reverend King said. She noted ruefully that Brooks' death took place in Atlanta, the 'black mecca' of America and 'the city that is supposed to be "too busy to hate."' King, 57, who was five years old when her father was assassinated in 1968, told the mourners she was at the church for 'what feels like an all-too-familiar moment.' She pointed out that Brooks died on the same date that NAACP leader Medgar Evers was assassinated in Mississippi in 1963 and Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in South Africa in 1964. Scroll down for video Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, channeled her father as she delivered a powerful speech during Rayshard Brooks' funeral in Atlanta on Tuesday Tomika Miller, Brooks's widow and mother of their children broke down in tears as she held her two-year-old daughter during the emotional service The invitation-only ceremony, led by Pastor Raphael Warnock (pictured at the pulpit) took place at the historic church where Martin Luther King Jr preached until his assassination in 1968 and has now become steeped in the black struggle for civil rights Family members and friends react during a prayer at Brooks's funeral service on Tuesday. Nearly all mourners were wearing protective masks against the coronavirus The body of Rayshard Brooks arrived in a gold-colored casket for his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Atlanta Hundreds of guests filed out of the church behind Brooks's casket, while dozens who gathered to watch the service outside looked on Tomika Miller wore a protective mask emblazoned with a photo of Brooks and their family. The heartbroken mother-of-three was comforted by a friend as she broke down in tears at the end of the service on Tuesday Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (right) was seen consoling an emotional Tomika Miller at the end of the service Rapper and Atlanta native T.I., dressed in all white, embraced the grieving mother before exiting the church 'I know the pain of growing up without a father and the ongoing attention around his tragic loss. I am and will continue to pray for each of you,' she said. 'This did not have to happen to Rayshard,' she added. 'The officers should have gone home that night without blood on their hands. This is the great tragedy in our nation that must cease.' 'There can be no peace in Atlanta nor anywhere in our nation where there is no justice,' she added. 'No justice, no peace,' she said, repeating the chant of protesters around the country. In a powerful echo of her father's 'I Have a Dream' speech, she declared: 'Rayshard Brooks' death will not be in vain because justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.' Senior pastor Reverend Raphael Warnock during his remarks called Brooks the 'latest high-profile casualty in the struggle for justice and a battle for the soul of America.' 'This is about him, but it is so much bigger than him,' he said. Warnock recited a long list of names of Black people who died at the hands of police in recent years, including Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Philando Castile and George Floyd, lamenting: 'Sadly we've gotten too much practice at this.' More than 200 family members and friends, some dressed all in white or in Black Lives Matter shirts, gathered at the church this afternoon to pay their final respects, following a procession with a white hearse carrying Brooks' body. Some bystanders stopped and faced the procession, raising clenched fists in the air, as Brooks's gold-colored casket was carried by a hearse emblazoned with his photo and text reading: 'killed in Atlanta, Georgia 2020.' Meanwhile, on the far side of the church, under a big tent, about 50 people sitting in folding chairs watched the service on a jumbotron. Stacey Abrams, the former state lawmaker who has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, wipes her face as she sits on the church pew As mourners filed out of the church at the end of the service, two men were seen holding a tapestry emblazoned with Brooks' face Brooks is being laid to rest nearly two weeks after he was shot dead by a white Atlanta police officer on June 12 People hold American flags near the entrance to Ebeneezer Baptist Church on Tuesday Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, was flanked by their two older children as she held their two-year-old daughter Memory during the family processional at his funeral Miller was seen holding the couple's two-year-old daughter Memory, and raising her hand in the air Dressed in white, Brooks's widow, Tomika Miller, sat in the front pew with her two-year-old daughter, Memory, on her lap. Among those at the service were Stacey Abrams, the former state lawmaker who has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden; and Jon Ossoff, a young Georgia media executive who broke fundraising records during an unsuccessful 2017 run for Congress, and Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was also in attendance. A horse-drawn hearse carrying the casket bearing the remains of Rayshard Brooks is seen at the Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetery The casket was driven by the carriage through te Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetery where mourners started to gather Mourners gather at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetary as his casket is brought in Family and friends dressed in white gathered at the cemetery with balloons bearing the letters of Rayshard Brooks' name A mourner wearing a mask carries Rayshard Brooks' funeral brochure (left). A wreath of white flowers and golden roses was placed inside the church during the ceremony (right) The service also drew a number of celebrities including Atlanta native and rapper T.I. and wife Tiny, who were recognized by pastor Warnock during the service as well as Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks. While a time for mourning, the church also billed the service as a celebration of his life. The Martin Luther King, Sr. Choir performed the gospel anthem 'Perfect Peace' before preachers and loved ones called for healing and change. Ambrea Mikolajczyk, a colleague and friend, described Brooks as a loving family man who was always looking out for others in the community, and that she believed his death on June 12 would help pave the way for police reforms. 'There is a movement, a shift in the atmosphere. For this will be his legacy,' Mikolajczyk said. 'You can never dim his light. It will forever shine so very bright.' Following a funeral procession carrying Brooks' body, about 200 family members and friends gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay their final respects at the invitation-only ceremony Among those arriving was Stacey Abrams, the former state lawmaker who has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden Georgia's democratic senatorial nominee Jon Ossoff wearing a protective face mask is seen next to a girl holding a sign as he arrives at the funeral Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard arrives for the funeral for Rayshard Brooks at Ebenezer Baptist Church Scores of mourners, many dressed in all white or in Black Lives Matters t-shirts, filed into the historic church on Tuesday During his remarks, Rev Warnock called Brooks the 'latest high-profile casualty in the struggle for justice and a battle for the soul of America' People hold U.S flags outside Ebenezer Baptist Church while funeral is in progress for Rayshard Brooks Crowds gathered outside the Atlanta church on Tuesday to watch the service on a jumbotron. Pictured: A little boy rides his tricycle with placards calling for justice Warnock, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, urged people to keep marching and raising their voices to challenge racism and fight for change. 'I came here today to announce another march. I don't want you to miss it. Make sure you show up for this march. It is happening on November 3, 2020, at a voting booth near you,' he said to applause. 'It's a contradiction to march in the streets and not march on the voting booth.' Some mourners wore T-shirts with Brooks' picture and nearly everyone wore masks against the coronavirus. Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry offered financial help for the service, according to a statement released by the family. Brooks, 27, was shot twice in the back June 12 by Officer Garrett Rolfe after a struggle that erupted when police tried to handcuff him for being intoxicated behind the wheel of his car at a Wendy's drive-thru. Video showed Brooks snatching a police Taser and firing it at Rolfe while running away. Brooks, 27, died on June 12 after he was shot dead by a white Atlanta police officer during a confrontation outside a Wendy's drive-thru The family of Rayshard Brooks arrived earlier this afternoon, the majority of them dressed in white or in BLM shirts Miller was seen donning a white dress and pearls as she is flanked by a loved one as they enter the church on Tuesday Rolfe, 27, was charged with murder and jailed without bail. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, 26, was charged with aggravated assault, accused of stepping on Brooks' shoulder as he lay dying on the pavement. Lawyers for both men said their clients' actions were justified. The killing unfolded amid protests and scattered violence set off around the country by the case of George Floyd, the Black man who was pronounced dead May 25 after a white Minneapolis put his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes. Atlanta's police chief stepped down less than 24 hours after Brooks' death, and the Wendy's was burned by protesters. While Brooks was not a member of Ebenezer Baptist, the church where King preached is a 'sanctuary for those who suffer,' Warnock said in a statement announcing the funeral plans. Body camera footage shows white officer Garrett Rolfe speaking to Brooks the night of his death, after police were called to a Wendy's drive-thru on June 12. The confrontation, which began peacefully, later escalated into violence Fired officer Garrett Rolfe (left in mugshot) was booked on felony murder and assorted other charges on June 18. Devin Brosnan (right) who was present but did not fire shots, is seen in a mugshot on Thursday An afternoon bail hearing for Rolfe that would have conflicted with the funeral was canceled by a judge. Under the law, crime victims and their families are entitled to be heard at such proceedings. Meanwhile, a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favor at least some change to the nations criminal justice system, and they overwhelmingly want to see clear standards on when police officers may use force and consequences for those who cross the line. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research said 29 per cent think the criminal justice system needs 'a complete overhaul,' 40 per cent say it needs 'major changes,' and 25 per cent say it needs 'minor changes.' Just 5 per cent believe no changes are necessary. On Monday, hundreds of mourners lined up for hours to pay their respects to Brooks, during a public viewing ahead of his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Inside the church, Brooks' body was put on display wearing a pristine white tuxedo with gold accents. Miller was among the first to approach the casket, placing a hand on Brooks' chest as she gazed down at him. Family members and friends wear all white during a processional for the funeral of Brooks Starbucks said Tuesday it will begin selling a plant-based breakfast sandwich made with Impossible sausage as part of its summer menu. The sandwich will also contain a cage-free fried egg and aged cheddar cheese and will be served on ciabatta bread. It will be available in most U.S. locations, the company said. Also on the summer menu are two cold-brew coffee-based beverages with almond milk foam flavored with either cinnamon or dark cocoa. In California and the Midwest, Starbucks will also sell Cold Brew with Cinnamon Oatmilk foam, expanding the availability of oat milk to new markets. The new cold brew beverages will cost between $4.45 and $4.75, while the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich will be priced between $4.95 and $5.25. The new sandwich joins other menu options Starbucks has released in recent years as more consumers seek to reduce their meat consumption. It helps move Starbucks another step closer to meeting sustainability goals it announced in January. "Over the years, in response to customer interest, we have added plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk. We are thrilled to expand our plant-based menu into food with this new breakfast sandwich," Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks, said in announcing the sandwich. Previously, Starbucks partnered with Beyond Meat, a competitor of Impossible, to offer similar plant-based sandwiches in Canada and China. Starbucks has said it wants to create a more sustainable menu, as it looks to cut carbon emissions, conserve water and reduce waste. Note: Pat Brown, CEO of Impossible Foods, on the 2020 CNBC Disruptor list, appears on Tuesday night's "Mad Money," which airs at 6 p.m. ET. Chouhan launched a scathing attack on Congress, particularly Gandhi, for making baseless assertions on India-China border conflict Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday took serious exception to the stand taken by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the raging India-China border dispute, lamenting that the latters recent comments on the issue were only helping the enemy country. Who will make him (Rahul Gandhi) understand that his stand on the issue only benefits the enemy country, Mr Chouhan said in his Twitter post. Mr Chouhan launched a scathing attack on Congress, particularly Mr Gandhi, for making baseless assertions on India-China border conflict to target prime minister Narendra Modi, in a series of posts posted in his Twitter account. Ruling and Opposition parties should stay united at this juncture. This is true Rashtra Dharm and political Dharm. But, who could make him (Rahul Gandhi) realize this' ', a twitter post by him said. I plead the Congress and its leaders not to do harm to the interest of the nation for narrow political gains (by making such statements), '' he said and appealed to Congress leaders to desist from politicizing the issue in the interest of the country. I noticed in the last few days that Congress and its leaders particularly Rahul Gandhi were running a pre-meditated campaign against the prime minister as well as the country. The campaigns foundation is based on lies, another twitter post by him said. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow doesn't believe there is systemic racism in the United States, citing the election of former President Barack Obama. "I don't accept the view of systemic racism. I think there is racism in pockets of this country, but I do not believe it is systemic," Kudlow told Jonathan Swan in an interview for "Axios on HBO." "You have as evidence of that view, our first black president, just a few years back, won two terms, and I regarded that with pride as an American." The big picture: Kudlow isn't the only Trump administration official to express such views. Attorney General Bill Barr, national security adviser Robert O'Brien and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf all said they don't believe there's systemic racism in law enforcement. The bottom line: Axios has added structural racism as a focus of our What Matters 2020 initiative. Polariss action is the latest move by a US corporation to take a harder line against systemic racism. Polaris Inc. is demanding that one of its largest retailers of off-road vehicles transfer ownership of his dealership because of racist comments disparaging Black Lives Matter protesters posted to his personal Facebook page. Activists in Tennessee took screen shots and shared a post made earlier this month on the Facebook page of Russell Abernathy, who owns Polaris, Harley-Davidson Inc. and Honda Motor Co. powersports stores in Union City, near the northwest corner of the state. Im sick of this black lives matter, read the post, which then used an expletive to call for Black people to return to Africa. Abernathy has said his Facebook page which features a photo of him standing next to a motorcycle and pointing up at a Confederate flag was hacked, according to Honda. Abernathy didnt respond to multiple messages left at his stores seeking comment. In a statement on his Harley dealerships website, he said he didnt write the post and rejects its content. Harley and Honda condemned the remarks and said they were investigating. Polariss action is the latest indication corporate America is taking a harder line against systemic racism in the business world. The company is headquartered in a suburb of Minneapolis near where George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died late last month after a city police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. The maker of all-terrain vehicles said June 3 it would donate $250,000 to local charities supporting racial equality. Retailer Complexity While Polaris and its peers are pledging to do more to stamp out racial bias within their ranks, their networks of hundreds of independent retailers across the country add another layer of complexity to those efforts. Harley, which has spent years trying to market to women and minority riders to expand its U.S. ridership beyond its core base of older white men, has forbidden licensees and dealers from using the Confederate flag with any of its logos, merchandise or products in a shift from the 1970s, when the company sold Confederate Edition bikes. Racism, hate or intolerance have no place in the Harley-Davidson community employees, dealers, riders or enthusiasts, the motorcycle manufacturer said in a statement. We will take decisive action based on the outcome of the investigation. Honda said in a tweet that racism and intolerance have absolutely no place in our company. Family Business Abernathy, who goes by the nickname Tootie, is a third-generation owner of a Harley store. His grandfather began working on motorcycles out of his garage in 1955, according to his companys website. Polaris said in a June 17 statement that Abernathy had agreed to cede ownership of his store. Should that transfer not occur, Polaris will terminate our relationship with current ownership, the company said. Two white Connecticut men have been arrested after they allegedly chased down three Black teenagers, yelled racial slurs at them and then stole their bikes, police say. Brothers Matthew Lemelin, 27 and 28-year-old Michael Lemelin were both arrested and charged following the alleged racially-motivated encounter which took place around 1:30am on Main Street in Manchester on Sunday. The three teens, aged 13, 14, and 15, told police how they had been riding their bicycles to a nearby gas station to pick up diapers for one of the boys family members when they were accosted by a white male, who called out Rob what? or Rob who? as they passed. The teens say the man, whom they later identified to be Matthew Lemelin, then called them the n-word. They continued riding but soon after saw a Jeep Cherokee driving towards them with the same man and another man inside. According to the three boys, the driver accelerated toward them and nearly hit one boy, police said. A witness also substantiated the claim to police, telling investigators she say the near-miss. One of the men then got out of the truck and chased after the teens. He then stole one of the boys bicycles after the fleeing rider fell off and was forced to run away on foot. The three terrified boys hid in a bush to escape their pursuers and dialled 911. They told police that the two men used dozens of racial slurs throughout the incident. Brothers Matthew (left) Lemelin, 27 and 28-year-old Michael Lemelin (right) were both arrested and charged following the alleged racially-motivated encounter about 1:30am on Main Street in Manchester on Sunday. Matthew Lemelin also faces charges from an earlier arrest in May in which he allegedly called a Black police officer the n-word Christina Torres, the mother of one of the teens, 13-year-old Nasir White, fought back tears as she told NBC CT that theres no doubt in my mind that if they got their hands on one of these little boys, they were gonna hurt them. They also told officers that people outside the nearby Cumberland Farms store told them they knew the men who had terrorized them and said they always yell White lives Matter! warrants say. Christina Torres, the mother of one of the teens, 13-year-old Nasir White, fought back tears as she told NBC CT that theres no doubt in my mind that if they got their hands on one of these little boys, they were gonna hurt them. The men got into their truck and chased down our children. We gotta stand together, because this could have been very different. I could have woken up on Sunday morning to my child dead, the tearful mother added. These are children and something needs to be done because they should not have to fear for their life, Torres continued. They should not have to fear for their life and my son was in a bush fearing for his life and we need justice. Officers said they immediately began their investigation and the car involved was found in a driveway on Main Street. Police said they knocked on the door of the home on Main Street but they weren't able to get in contact with the suspects. Torres took matter into her own hands Sunday, turning up at the home of the Lemelin brothers and demanding they come outside to explain themselves for allegedly harassing and racially abusing her son and his friends. Her calls were never answered, but police were eventually able to contact the men and they were arrested. Matthew Lemelin faces charges that include intimidation based on bigotry or bias. His brother, Michael Lemelin, who is accused of driving after the fleeing teens, faces charges that include second-degree reckless endangerment. Matthew Lemelin is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail, and Michael Lemelin is being held on bail of $5,000. Both are to appear in Superior Court on August 25. Matthew Lemelin also faces charges from an earlier arrest in May in which he allegedly called a Black police officer the n-word. Christina Torres, the mother of one of the teens, 13-year-old Nasir White, fought back tears as she told NBC CT that theres no doubt in my mind that if they got their hands on one of these little boys, they were gonna hurt them. A woman who identified herself as the fiancee of Michael Lemelin reached out to NBC Connecticut saying he is an upstanding citizen and not a racist In their interactions with police involving the case of Torres son, Michael Lemelin told police he wasnt chasing the boys, rather that his brother had asked him for a ride to a store in town, which turned out to be closed, police documents say. As they were heading back home he claims Matthew Lemelin hopped out of the passenger door. Michael claimed to police that his brother wasnt pursuing anyone, according to investigators. Michael Lemelin, however, said that Matthew had been pounding back the beers and was yelling out racial slurs. However, he claimed he didnt know who Matthew was yelling at until his brother told him later that a group of teenagers had called him a white cracker. However, police say that after reviewing surveillance footage from a nearby pharmacy, the driver of the Lemelin brothers can been seen driving around searching for the teens the exact opposite of what Michael Lemelin claimed had happened, police noted. The video also shows the teens scattering as the Jeep pulls up beside, as reported by the Hartford Courant. The video does not show the near miss that the boys and the witness reported, nor could police determine if the teens directed any racial slurs at Matthew Lemelin. Police say that numerous witnesses came forward claiming to have heard Matthew Lemelin yelling the n-word at the juveniles. Matthew stated that he later learned that the kids were young teens, the warrant for his arrest says, as observed by the Courant. He stated, if he had known that, he wouldnt have done what he did. A woman who identified herself as the fiancee of Michael Lemelin reached out to NBC Connecticut saying he is an upstanding citizen and not a racist. We support Black Lives Matter, Samantha Bartone told the network. Torres took matter into her own hands Sunday, turning up at the home of the Lemelin brothers and demanding they come outside to explain themselves for allegedly harassing and racially abusing her son and his friends. Bartone went on to say that she and her young daughter fear for their lives due to social media threats. Dozens of people gathered in Manchester over the weekend, welding signs and chanting in unison in a collective voice of outrage over the incident. A local business brought three new bikes for the teens involved, who were not in attendance for the demonstration. We are coming here together to say that if this should happen again in this community, we're going to find you, we're going to make sure the police hold you accountable. We're going to hold the police accountable, Power Up Manchester Founder Keren Prescott, who helped organize the protest, told the crowd. This is the second time in as many months that Matthew Lemelin has been accused of using racial slurs. During a May 20 arrest in which the 27-year-old was accused of breaking a car window and throwing things into the street, attending officer Rob Johnson, who is black, said that Lemelin had to be shot with a stun gun as he attempted to flee. A physical altercation with police ensued, which Johnson claims he said after that he didnt have to jack him up and referred to me as some type of [n-word], the officer wrote. President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Tuesday spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing his sincere apology for the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana. In a telephone call, the Ghanaian leader told President Buhari that he has directed a full investigation into the incident, a release by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, explained. The statement said earlier in the day, some suspects had been arrested, and will be arraigned in court. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Ghanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs apologised to the Nigerian government over the attack on the building. Some armed men reportedly invaded the building in the Ghanaian capital, on Friday night, destroying some apartments under construction. Ghanaian media reported that a businessman had earlier accused the high commission of encroaching on his land. The demolished building was recently acquired by the Nigerian embassy. Angered by the incident, some Nigerians in the country protested the destruction, calling on the Ghanaian authorities to act. PREMIUM TIMES obtained videos of the protesters lamenting how the armed men broke into the building and destroyed it. In a press statement, Ghanas foreign affairs ministry said it views the act as a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between countries. It expressed regrets over the demolition, saying; Investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring perpetrators to book. Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has beefed up security at the said facility and the situation is under control. While expressing regrets over the incident, the Ministry wishes to reassure the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in particular that Ghana remains a law abiding country that upholds the principle of the rule of law. Pakistan's Coronavirus cases jumped to 181,088 on Monday after 4,471 new cases were reported during the last 24 hours, while 89 people died of the disease, taking the number of fatalities in the country to 3,590, the health ministry said. The country has seen a massive surge in the Coronavirus cases after it lifted a two-month lockdown, earlier this month. Put up signs reading 'full house' At least 100,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in the country, after Pakistan lifted its lockdown, according to a New York Times report published on June 15. Pakistanis stricken by the Coronavirus are being turned away from hospitals that have simply closed their gates and put up signs reading full house. Doctors and nurses are falling ill at alarming rates, and are also coming under physical assault from desperate and angry families, notes the report. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Pakistan to return to lockdown. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said despite rising infections and deaths, the country would need to learn to "live with" the virus to avert pushing tens of millions living on daily wages into destitution. Now, a video has emerged which has been shared by Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat in which Pakistan PM Imran Khan can be seen praising his government's efforts in controlling COVID-19 crisis quite a few times in the recent months. But, the reality on the ground is different. 'I would have never allowing imposing lockdown' "If they would have asked me in the morning, I would have never allowed imposing such a lockdown but suddenly everyone panicked and decided to impose a lockdown. People started looking at Europe and Wuhan but the situation was different there and here but we still imposed a lockdown," Imran said in one of his interviews. READ | Imran Khan's Covid Tiger Force officer thrashed for asking shopkeepers for bribe; arrested READ | As Coronavirus surges, Imran Khan's Pakistan says there's no choice but to open In another interview, the Pakistan Prime Minister on April 18 said, "I would want to congratulate everyone because a study said that by April 25, there would be around 50 thousand cases in Pakistan, but our calculation says there will be only 12,000-15,000 cases, so we are in a "khush kismat condition" (lucky condition). I am saying this because look at other countries that how they are reporting around 1000 deaths every day. We are doing much better and our lockdown has succeeded." READ | Imran Khan enjoys 'Man vs Food'-esque feast in Sindh visit; self-exposes austerity sham READ | PCB chairman Mani: 'Was brought back by Imran Khan to correct & improve Pakistan cricket' CAVENDISHDarren Doiron had never seen anything like the damage caused by post-tropical storm Dorian. Not that widespread, thats for sure, he said. The owner of Doirons Tree Service in Summerside has been following the trail of countless trees left behind after Dorians heavy winds blew across parts of Prince Edward Island last September. There wasnt much time for rest, he said. It was really overwhelming. Nine months later, most of the trees that posed a danger or were a noticeable eyesore have been taken care of, but Doiron doesnt expect to be finished anytime soon. For instance, many seasonal residents may not have seen their P.E.I. properties since Dorian swept through, he said. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of these residents might not be visiting the Island this year, meaning any trees that Dorian pushed down onto their yards could go unnoticed for a while yet. Just one tree at a time, Doiron said. One region where his business has spent plenty of time since the storm was along the provinces northern shore. Many properties were damaged heavily by Dorian, including the P.E.I. National Park. Brad Romaniuk, resource conservation manager with Parks Canada, said they started the tree removal process on their Cavendish-region parks shortly after the storm and were mostly finished as of June this year. The impact was significant, and things look very different now, he said. His staff is currently focusing on repairing damaged sites and structures, such as the bridges along the Balsam Hollow Trail. Romaniuk is also looking forward to starting the next step replanting trees. (Well) see that forest regenerate in a way thats both resilient and representative of the forest of P.E.I., he said. P.E.I.s forests are largely Acadian forests, which contain a diverse population of both hardwood and softwood tree species. Due to early settlers chopping down these trees, Cavendishs forests consisted largely of white spruce trees leading up to Dorian, he said. It was the white spruces that took the biggest hit, and Romaniuk noted this was likely to occur soon and naturally anyway. Dorian simply accelerated the process. Most of them were at the end of their life cycles already, he said. It just signals a change in the ecosystem. The benefits of replanting a more Acadian forest is that the tree variety would allow for wider biodiversity of animals and would be more resilient, he said. Many of our Acadian forests didnt sustain as much damage, he said. There were still impacts but not to the same degree. The first phase of replanting was supposed to start this spring but was delayed due to COVID-19. While Romaniuk expects to start by fall, it could take anywhere from weeks to months, and it will certainly be monitored for years, he said. Not all of the fallen trees have been removed. Many are being left in safe locations to help illustrate the extent of Dorians damage to visitors as well for the natural benefits of letting them rot out. Theyll provide organic composition for new species coming in, Romaniuk said. Outside of the national park, theres still a fair amount of cleaning up to do. Matthew Jelley, mayor of the Resort Municipality which includes Cavendish, said that its focus is still on straightening up properties namely Swimming Rock park in Stanley Bridge and the Montgomery Park in Cavendish. But much of the regions cleanup costs are on the onus of individual property owners. The reality is that the impact of the storm was quite devastating. And then to be followed by the impact of COVID-19 it has been a difficult period for our community. Jelley believes it takes an optimistic person to plant a tree because its a long time before they would see any results. Because of the regions high dependency on tourism, the appearance of its properties and the region as a whole is important, so the community must persevere. Despite all the challenges, its in our nature in Cavendish to be as hospitable and welcoming as we can be, he said. We cant put the trees back where they were, unfortunately, but we can do our best to clean up and to prepare for new growth. The Resort Municipality hopes to start helping the replanting process by co-ordinating with Parks Canada and community members soon, he said. Read more about: 'America is the land of opportunity,' goes a famous saying. The 'opportunity' America gives to anyone and everyone is the chance to succeed. The people who take this opportunity? Immigrants. US President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to "reform" the H-1B visa system and shift towards merit-based immigration, White House officials said. "Moving to a merit-based immigration system," the White House said in a statement after Trump announced the temporary suspension of H1-B and other visas till the end of 2020. The statement went on to say that the Trump administration would reform the system to prioritise skilled workers and protect American jobs. In the said reforms, the H-1B programme will give priority to workers who are being given the highest wage, making certain that only skilled applicants are admitted. Under the said reforms, the H-1B programme is going to prioritise those workers who are offered the highest wages as the best proxy for what they bring to the table to add to the American economy, an official was quoted saying. But who will the new H-1B visa programme affect? The bottom line: a wide range of workers, from au pairs to software engineers, will be blocked from coming to the US at least until January. And those restrictions could be extended. There are some exceptions. Among them, the proclamation says officials will come up with standards to let in people treating Covid-19 patients or conducting research to help the US combat the pandemic. According to USCIS, the H-1B visa category covers individuals who "work in a speciality occupation, engage in cooperative research and development projects administered by the U.S. Department of Defense, or are fashion models that have national or international acclaim and recognition." The H-1B is most well known as a visa for skilled tech workers, but workers in other industries, like health care and the media, have also been known to use these visas. While it may not be possible to determine exactly which visas some of America's top Silicon valley leaders went to the country by, it's obvious that most of the ones at the top are immigrants, who at some point availed a 'temporary' visa to move here. Here are some of the Indian links. Sundar Pichai, Google, Alphabet CEO: Pichai is originally from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He initially moved to the US on a student visa - on his admission to Stanford. In a recent YouTube address, he spoke about how his plane ticket to the U.S was a year worth of his dad's salary, and it was his first time on a flight. Read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai's Dad Spent One Year's Salary for His Flight Ticket to America Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, was also born in India, in Hyderabad, and also moved to attend college in the USA, in the late 1980's. He too, initially went to USA on a student visa. Indra Nooyi, the former was the former CEO of Pepsico, was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and moved to the USA in 1980, also on a temporary student visa for higher education. Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Inc, was born in Hyderabad, and attended the same high school as Satya Nadella. Narayen too, moved to the USA for a higher degree on a temporary student visa. Ajaypal Singh Banga, the CEO of Mastercard, was also born and raised in India, and completed education in India itself. Banga initially worked in India, and the moved to the US in 2002, when he took over CitiFinancial's retail bank in North America. He moved around the world, and then in 2009, returned to the USA and joined Mastercard, again without a permanent residency visa. But it's not just Indians, immigrants from everywhere have pretty much shaped up the US economy. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is the son of an undocumented immigrant in America. Ursula Burns, the CEO of Xerox, was raised in America by a single mother, who too, was an immigrant. Arianna Huffington, the co-founder of HuffPost, also moved to the USA on a temporary visa before her permanent residency. Donald Trump's own wife, Melania Trump, moved to the USA on a H-1B work visa. Donald Trump's visa limits skilled workers, which affects the IT crowd in India from moving to the US. But the entire point of stopping a particular visa, whether for a pandemic or economic reasons is something which reeks of privilege and irony in the US. For a country regulated by people who themselves come from a long line of immigrants who moved for 'better opportunities' to the States, for a better life, they too were immigrants. If visas were regulated all the way back when ships from England sailed to America, maybe even Trump would have never made it there. Fullerton Grounds Maintenance Fullerton Grounds Maintenance has a long history of participating in charitable causes and when we learned about Project EverGreen, we jumped at the opportunity to get involved. It allows us to help these special men and women by applying our trade and doing what we do best. Fullerton Grounds Maintenance (FGM), a leading provider of landscape services in central and northern New Jersey, is volunteering free landscaping services this summer to select military families in Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties. Teaming up with Project EverGreen, a non-profit dedicated to providing military families with free lawn and landscape services, FGM is committed to giving back to our finest heroes. Since 2018, Fullerton Grounds Maintenance has assisted families with their landscape needs through Project EverGreens Greencare for Troops program. This year, the company is helping four deployed families. Fullerton Grounds Maintenances involvement in the project originated from a personal connection between the programs mission and FGMs CEO and Founder Scott Fullerton. My daughter is part of the armed forces so I have a deep connection and understanding of some of the challenges military families face, Fullerton said. Fullerton Grounds Maintenance has a long history of participating in charitable causes and when we learned about Project EverGreen, we jumped at the opportunity to get involved. It allows us to help these special men and women by applying our trade and doing what we do best. Military families face many challenges when a loved one is deployed. Project EverGreens GreenCare for Troops was founded in 2006 to ease the burden on the families of deployed military personnel by providing the gift of healthy, healing lawns and landscapes for military families to find solace. These complimentary services are provided by professional volunteers for the length of deployment. The program is needs based for active-duty deployed service members and includes all military branches. It is Fullerton Grounds Maintenances hope to inspire more landscaping companies to get involved with the program and make a difference in the lives of military families. This is a meaningful way we can give back to these men and women who sacrifice so much for us and our country, said Fullerton. About Fullerton Grounds Maintenance Fullerton Grounds Maintenance, based in Kenvil, New Jersey, has been a leading provider of landscape services in central and northern New Jersey for the past 25 years. Fullerton Grounds Maintenance's mission is to exceed its clients' expectations by providing exceptional landscape services at competitive prices, by demonstrating that the team is fully accountable for its work, and by cultivating strong long-term relationships with its customers. Press Contact: Kelcey Kintner Kelcey@redbanyan.com 646.391.8001 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The US Commerce Department will release new home sales for May at 10:00 am ET Tuesday. Ahead of the data, the greenback dropped against its major counterparts. The greenback was worth 106.31 against the yen, 0.9436 against the franc, 1.2490 against the pound and 1.1334 against the euro 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. (Newser) Coronavirus tests have come back positive for two more members of President Trump's Tulsa advance team. Both were at the president's reelection rally Saturday, NBC reports, and the campaign said they wore masks. That brings the number of staff members who were in Tulsa known to be infected with the coronavirus to eighta total that could riseafter six people tested postiive before the event. That group includes two Secret Service staff members. "Upon the positive tests, the campaign immediately activated established quarantine and contact tracing protocols," said Tim Murtaugh, the campaign's communications director. story continues below The Trump campaign earlier had said that no staff members who had tested positive were in the Tulsa arena, per the New York Times. It wasn't clear whether the two infected staff members had any contact with Trump or Vice President Mike Pence at the rally. Masks were handed out to the crowd, but many people did not wear one. The president is scheduled to travel to Arizona on Tuesday for an event with Students for Trump at a megachurch. The mayor of Phoenix said attendees will not be required to wear a mask, per KTAR, but she expressed hope that Trump would advise people to wear one. (To attend the Tulsa rally, you had to agree not to sue the campaign over catching the virus.) Horrifying footage has revealed the moment a seven-months-pregnant black woman was tackled to the ground by three railway guards at a Paris train station last week. 'Leave her alone. She is pregnant,' the 23-year-old woman's partner shouted at officers as they pinned her to the floor in an arm lock last Tuesday in the Aulnay-sous-Bois suburb. The arrest by agents of France's nationalised rail company, SNCF, has fuelled outrage in the capital which has seen furious protests over police brutality since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. The SNCF have defended their officers who they say they were spat at and bitten by the woman, named only as Diatou, after she refused to wear a mask. Diatou said the agents had no justification for the violence, which also resulted in the arrest of her partner. Diatou said the agents had no justification for the violence, which also resulted in the arrest of her partner. 'I did not insult them, I did not hit them, I don't understand why they tackled me to the floor,' she said. 'Every time I see this footage, I have to cry. I see the images in my head.' 'I did not insult them, I did not hit them, I don't understand why they tackled me to the floor,' she told news site Loopsider. 'Every time I see this footage, I have to cry. I see the images in my head.' The footage begins with an SNCF agent pushing the heavily pregnant woman backwards in the station as she says: 'Don't push me.' She is then pulled and tackled to the ground as she repeatedly says: 'Don't push me.' She cries out in pain as the agent and a colleague take her down and pin her to the floor on her stomach. While they take her down, her partner can be heard trying to get to her saying: 'Let me go.' He then adds: 'Leave her alone. She is pregnant.' He tries to intervene, but other SNCF railway security agents stop him from doing so. Diatou can be heard screaming as her partner tries to intervene again, aiming a kick at a security agent who is putting handcuffs on her. 'I did not insult them, I did not hit them, I don't understand why they tackled me to the floor,' she told news site Loopsider . 'Every time I see this footage, I have to cry. I see the images in my head.' Her partner, 30, was also taken into custody and he too will be tried on August 25 for rebellion A male voice, clearly that of the person filming, can be heard telling the agents: 'She is pregnant! She is pregnant! I swear to God, you are messing up! She is pregnant!' The woman's partner tries to intervene again but the agents then detain him too. Three SNCF agents have filed a complaint. Diatou was taken to hospital where it was confirmed she was seven months pregnant and she was then taken into detention for several hours before being released on bail. She will appear in court on August 25 on charges of violence against the three security guards. Her partner, 30, was also taken into custody and he too will be tried on August 25 for rebellion. 'Leave her alone. She is pregnant,' the 23-year-old woman's partner shouted at officers as they pinned her to the floor last Tuesday in the Aulnay-sous-Bois suburb. Last Wednesday, medical workers took to the streets of Paris to protest the arrest of a nurse who was dragged through dirt by police. About 50 people gathered in front of a police station on the capital's Left Bank to support the nurse, identified only as Farida, who was arrested during a medical workers' protest march the day before. The woman's daughter, Imen Mellaz, announced that her mother had been released from custody just before Wednesday's gathering and charged with rebellion. Before her arrest, the nurse was seen throwing rocks at police. 'Maybe the charges were legitimate, but in no way was the violence proportionate,' her daughter said. In video of the incident shared widely online, police are seen dragging the nurse by her hair, she calls repeatedly for her inhaler, and her forehead is bloodied. Hospital workers march during a demonstration, Tuesday, June 16, 2020 in Paris. French hospital workers and others are protesting in cities around the country to demand better pay and more investment in France's public hospital system Police advance on protesters during a march against police brutality and racism in Marseille, France, Saturday, June 13, 2020, organized by supporters of Adama Traore, who died in police custody in 2016 The CGT union said one of her ribs was broken. Activists said that what happened to her was part of a pattern of disproportionate use of force by police. French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye defended the nurse's arrest last week, alleging she had a history of aggressive acts. 'The arrest was carried out based on the woman's prior behavior,' Ndiaye said. CGT members, activists from France's anti-government yellow vest movement, nurses and allies took part in Wednesday's rally backing the nurse. Etienne Charenton, a nurse at a psychiatric hospital, said he is tired. 'We are subject to violence every day at work and we were subject to it again at the protest, even though it was mostly about making our demands heard and festive,' he said before the crowd dispersed peacefully. Police Stop Vandals From Taking Down Andrew Jackson Statue Near White House Police on Monday dispersed a crowd of vandals who tried to tear down a statue of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson near the White House. The protesters climbed onto the statue and tied ropes and cords around it before trying to pull the statue away from its base, videos posted to social media showed. Vandals also doused the marble pedestal with yellow paint. Police officers moved in with pepper spray to help move vandals and the surrounding crowd away from the statue and disperse them out of Lafayette Square, according to video footage captured at the scene. Two people were arrested by U.S. Park Police during the attempt to topple the statue, Alexandra Picavet, a National Park Service spokeswoman, told The Epoch Times. A rioter wraps chains around the neck of the statue of U.S. President Andrew Jackson during an attempt by vandals to pull the statue down in the middle of Lafayette Park in front of the White House during protests in Washington, on June 22, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Vandals attempt to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington, on June 22, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) U.S. Park Police keep crowds back after some among them attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington, on June 22, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The incident took place around 8 p.m. Most of the crowd stayed in the Black Lives Matter Plaza after being pushed out of Lafayette Square. The statue was erected in 1852 on a white marble base and depicts Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, on a rearing horse. It remains mounted on its pedestal. On the same night, a group of demonstrators reportedly tried to form a Black House Autonomous Zone, or BHAZ near the White House, in what appears to be an imitation of the self-proclaimed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ in Seattlewhich has since been renamed to Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP. U.S. Park Police keeps the crowd away some among them tried to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington, on June 22, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) A video posted by The Daily Caller shows St. Johns Episcopal Church vandalized with spray paint with the acronym BHAZ. Police later secured a perimeter in front of the church. Late Monday night, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that numerous people have been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St. Johns Church across the street. Trump also warned that those who behave in violation of the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act can face 10 years in prison. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who was at the scene Monday night, issued a statement on Twitter praising law enforcement and denouncing the attempted act of desecration by anarchists. I just left Lafayette Square where another so called peaceful protest led to destruction tonight, he wrote. Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served. Zachary Stieber and Reuters contributed to this report. IBMC Financial Professionals Group, an internationally recognised financial services institution and business consultants, has joined hands with US Gold Currency and Blockfills to bring the worlds first monetary gold-backed digital gold currency to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Middle East and Africa. The currency is also being simultaneously introduced in India, said a statement. IBMC has partnered exclusively with US Gold Currency, the issuer of the US Gold digital currency, and Blockfills, the transaction platform provider, it said. Each US Gold digital currency is backed by US American Eagle one ounce (33.931 gram) gold coin, minted by US Federal Agency, US Mint. The holders of the currency can redeem their digital assets as physical gold coin or in US dollars anywhere in the world. IBMC is introducing the digital asset to customers ranging from retail and corporate investors, banks, financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds to treasuries and asset management companies. The US Gold digital currency was launched on June 22 from Dubai at a specially designed IBMC Hybrid Event by Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Hamed, Chairman of IBMC Financial Professionals Group, and Sajith Kumar PK, CEO & Managing Director of IBMC Financial Professionals Group, with the virtual presence of officials from the US Gold Currency, Asia-Africa Development Council, GSEF and Blockfills USA. We have seen significant demand for gold and USG is an innovative and unique digital currency backed by the American Eagle one ounce gold coin. Todays global economic climate has further increased that demand at the institutional and retail levels. We are very happy to join hands with US Gold Currency and Blockfills in bringing the worlds first monetary gold-backed digital gold asset to the GCC, Middle East and African markets in addition to India, said Sheikh Khalid. Consumers and businesses benefit from a secure digital asset token that is not subject to the volatile swings of the markets, and from the opportunity to easily exchange their digital currency into a tangible asset, monetary gold coins produced by the US Mint. With the launch of the digital gold currency, investors in GCC, Middle East & Africa will have the significant opportunity to reduce the cost of their transactions as well as have the flexibility of time for making payments. A customer can login with a secured user ID and password on the trading platform for buying and redeeming the coins. TradeArabia News Service Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2020) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Ventana Zone, a new stratabound copper-silver discovery at AM North, extends over 11-km north to the Herradura Zone. The newly discovered Ventana Zone lies within Max's wholly-owned CESAR sediment-hosted copper-silver project, located 420-km north of Bogota, Colombia. The Ventana Discovery Highlights This second discovery zone at AM North consisting of three new outcrops along an open-ended 300-metre horizon, returned composite grab sample highlight values of 2.7% copper and 4 g/t silver over 2-metres (Fig. 1, 2, 3 and Table 1). Max considers composite grab sampling as representative, but cautions investors that grab samples can be selective and may not necessarily be representative of in-situ mineralization; The Ventana Zone lies within a broad 11-km continuous zone of copper-silver mineralization, trending north to the Herradura Zone, where two previously reported bulk samples 1.8-km apart, returned 10.4% copper+88g/t silver and 3.5% copper+29 g/t silver; The style of mineralization and the copper minerals (chalcocite, malachite, azurite, cuprite, and native copper) at Ventana are similar to the copper-silver mineralization at Herradura; Additional rock chip channel analyses are pending for both Ventana and Herradura (Fig. 2), as well as AM South, located 40-km SSW along the same mineralized trend. The open-ended AM South mineralized horizons extend over 5-km, returning highlight values of 5.4% copper and 63 g/t silver from 0.1 to 25-metres. "Extending the AM North stratabound copper-silver zone to over 11-kilometres is a major step towards demonstrating the potential of the CESAR district as a significant copper and silver regional basin. Our field teams continue to make new discoveries, building on and confirming the Kupferschiefer-style geological model for CESAR. We look forward to releasing further exploration results as ALS Mineral Assay Labs clears the backlog resulting from COVID-19," said Brett Matich, CEO of Max. Story continues Fig 1. CESAR target zone location To view an enhanced version of Fig 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/58385_b6af82e1544cab5c_001full.jpg Fig 2. AM NORTH, Ventana & Herradura Zones, assays pending locations To view an enhanced version of Fig 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/58385_b6af82e1544cab5c_002full.jpg Fig 3. "Ventana Zone" outcrop 425646 - 345 Strike - 64NE Dip To view an enhanced version of Fig 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/58385_b6af82e1544cab5c_003full.jpg Table 1. Sampling Lithology Sampling Type Metres Mineralization Copper (%) Silver (g/t) 425646 Sst Composite grab 2.00 Mal, Az, Cho, Cpr, Nat.Cu 2.70 4.0 425624 Sst Composite grab 2.00 Mal, Az, Cho, Cpr, Nat.Cu 1.02 3.7 425625 Sst Composite grab 2.00 Mal, Az, Cho, Cpr, Nat.Cu 0.64 3.0 Quality Assurance The composite grab samples were shipped to the ALS Lab sample preparation facility in Medellin, Colombia. Sample pulps are sent to Lima, Peru for analysis. All samples are analyzed using ALS procedure ME-MS41, a four-acid digestion with ICP finish. Over limit copper and silver are determined by ALS procedure OG-62, a four-acid digestion with an AAS finish. ALS Labs is independent from Max. Max is not aware of any other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. CESAR Sediment-Hosted Copper-Silver Project - Overview The wholly-owned CESAR project in north east Colombia lies along a 120-km sediment-hosted copper-silver belt, that resembles Kupferschiefer in Poland. KGHM's Kupferschiefer is Europe's largest copper mine, in 2018 producing 30.3Mt of ore grading 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver from a mineralized zone that averages 0.4 to 5.5-metre thickness. In addition, it is the world's leading silver producer, providing 40.2Mozs in 2019, almost twice the production of the world's second largest silver mine, according to the World Silver Survey 2020. The CESAR region has major infrastructure. Mining operations include Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in Latin America, jointly owned by global miners BHP Billiton, XStrata and Anglo American. Important highlights for the CESAR Project: AM North discoveries lie along a broad 11-km continuous zone of copper-silver mineralization. At the northern end lies the "Herradura Zone", open along-strike and down and up dip; returning values of 24.8% copper+230 g/t silver from a continuous 4-metre by 1-metre rock chip channel and 10.4% copper+88 g/t silver from a continuous 1-metre rock chip channel. Two subsequent bulk samples 1.8-km apart returned 10.4% copper+88g/t silver and 3.5% copper+29 g/t silver. The newly discovered "Ventana Zone", lies 11-km SSW, composite grab samples returned highlight values of 2.70% copper and 4 g/t silver over 2-metres; Structural analysis conducted by Ingenieria Geologica Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Medellin concluded that the Kupferschiefer type stratabound copper-silver mineralization at the Herradura Zone forms a continuous mineralized zone; Additional assays are pending for both AM North and the AM South discovery located 40-km SSW along the same mineralized trend. The open-ended AM South mineralized horizons extend over 5-km, returning highlight values of 5.4% copper and 63 g/t silver from 0.1 to 25-metre intervals; A technical study by Fathom Geophysics in collaboration with one of the world's leading copper producers is well underway (May 13, 2020); Mineralogy results from the University of Science and Technology ("AGH") research study are pending. AGH is located in Krakow, Poland and has a long history of cooperation with KGHM, the largest copper producer in Europe and the world's largest silver producer (April 21, 2020); Active field work is to re-commence late June. The exploration strategy is to demonstrate the potential of the CESAR district as a significant copper and silver regional basin. EBAY Palladium-Platinum Project - Summary The EBAY palladium-platinum project, located 30-km SE of Matagami in the Abitibi Region of Quebec, Canada, is underlain by the Archean Bell River Complex, a layered mafic intrusion measuring 65-km by 15-km and 5-km thick. Max has entered into an Option Agreement pursuant to which the Company may acquire a 100% interest of EBAY (May 12, 2020). Highlight exploration of ballast pit sampling between 2000 to 2008 returned: 4.9 g/t palladium-platinum from a 4 to 5-metre wide zone; 3 g/t palladium+1.4 g/t platinum+0.12 rhodium in 2005; 2.5 g/t palladium-platinum from a newly discovered 500-metre long zone in 2006. The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization. EBAY drilling in 2006 intersected 1.90 g/t palladium-platinum over 3-metres from 80.5 to 83.5-metres. Further drilling discovered a new zone comprising 600-metres of strike, 120-metres deep, 6.7 to 31.1-metres wide, open in all directions, with highlight values of 2.52 g/t palladium-platinum. Subsequent aero-magnetic survey extended the target zone to 4.8-km of strike (March 25, 2020). Choco Platinum Gold Project - Summary CHOCO gold-platinum project (250 sq.km) is located 120-km SW of Medellin Colombia, within a district with historical production of 1.5Mozs of gold and 1.0Mozs of platinum (1906-1990) by Choco Pacific Mining. Compilation of historical records revealed the potential for related PGE's particularly palladium and rhodium. In addition, recent field work in 2019 by Max resulted in concentrate values of 114 g/t platinum and 341 g/t gold (April 16, 2019). Source: R.J. Fletcher and Associates (2011) Review of Gold and Platinum Exploration and Production in Choco Province Colombia Part 3. Private Report for Condo to Platinum NL. About Max Resource Corp. With its successful exploration and management team, Max Resource Corp. is advancing both its copper, silver and precious metals landholdings in Colombia, and its EBAY palladium-platinum landholdings in Quebec, Canada. Each of these belts has potential for the discovery of large-scale mineral deposits attractive to major partners. Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Max Resource Corp. Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58385 PORTLAND, Oregon, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled,"Luxury Wines and Spirits Market by Type (Wines/Champagnes and Spirits) and Distribution Channel (Wholesale, Retail, E-Commerce, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027."According to the report, the global luxury wines and spiritsmarket garnered $970 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $1,411 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.9% from 2020 to 2027. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Increase in demand for premium quality luxury goods, rise in disposable income, and rapid urbanization drive the growth of the global luxury wines and spirits market. However, stringent government policies and selective distribution of products hinder the market growth. On the other hand, growth in popularity of cocktail drinks and increase in demand for selected standardized premium productsare anticipated to offer new opportunities in the coming years. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1813 Covid-19 Scenario- The operational disruption in alcoholic beverages industry, and supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 outbreak, has impacted theluxury wines and spiritsmarket. In addition, according to the instructions issued by world health organization (WHO), alcohol consumption has been restricted,considering the risk of adverse health outcomes. This affected the sale of luxury wines and spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spritssegment to maintain its lead status- Based on type, the spritssegment accounted for more thanthree-fifthsof the global luxury wines and spirits market in 2019, and is expected to maintain its lead status in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. This is due toincrease in popularity of cocktail drinks.However, the wines/champagne segmentis estimated toportray the highest CAGR of 5.0% from 2020 to 2027. Change in lifestyle and inclination toward fine quality of products drives the growth of the segment. The retailsegment to maintain its leadership position- Based on distribution channel, the retailsegment contributed to the highest market share with more than two-fifth of the global luxury wines and spirits market in 2019, and is estimated to maintain its leadership position during the forecast period. This is due to increase in adoption of retail shops in both mature and emerging markets.However, the e-commerce segment is estimated to generate the fastest CAGR of 5.10% from 2020 to 2027. North America to grow at a fastest CAGR during the forecast period- Based on region, North America is estimated to generate the fastest CAGR of 5.9% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to rise in disposable income and increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages in this region.However, the region across Europeaccounted for the highest share based on revenue, holding for more thantwo-fifthsof the global luxury wines and spirits market in 2019, and is projected to maintain its dominant position throughout the forecast period.Changing lifestyle and presence of leading key players such as Campari, Bacardi, Pernod Richard, and Diageo in this region is responsible to drive the growth of the market. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1813 Leading market players Diageo Pernod Ricard Bacardi Brown-Forman Thai Beverage Public Company Limited Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A HitejinroCo.Ltd Suntory Holdings Limited Edrington LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton . Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Organic Coffee Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20192026 Absinthe Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20192026 Plant-Based Beverage Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20192026 Duty-Free Liquor Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20192026 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research Low-income countries in Asia are not spending enough to support their populations during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a paper from the United Nations Development Programme. Governments of wealthy countries went into "whatever-it-takes" mode to boost their economies during the crisis, but low-income countries have delivered much smaller responses. The UN found that the G-7 group of advanced countries are spending an average of 5.6% of their GDP to rescue their economies, while poorer countries in Asia have announced fiscal packages ranging between 0.02% to 0.8% of GDP. Although India set aside a large stimulus, only the equivalent of 0.8% of GDP is going to those who are vulnerable. A health care worker checks the temperature in the Dharavi slums during Covid-19 pandemic, on June 20, 2020 in Mumbai, India. Satish Bate | Hindustan Times | Getty Images The amounts are "too small" and are "not up to the task of countering the devastating effect on the (well-being) of vulnerable members of the population," authors of the paper wrote. Additionally, the funds may not be reaching those most in need, because programs often exclude "over half of the poorest members of society." "We're finding it's a very thin trickle to the most vulnerable communities that have very little and have lost their jobs," said Kanni Wignaraja, director of UNDP's regional bureau for Asia and the Pacific. "They're the ones at most risk from the coronavirus. This is very worrying right now." She told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" last week that the majority of people who have lost their livelihoods are living below the poverty line or just above it. "A shock like (Covid-19) is really pushing them all back ... into extreme poverty," Wignaraja said. "That is not going to immediately be addressed by the fiscal stimulus that's going to the larger businesses and companies," she said. "We've really got to look at the millions and millions of people who are on the street." Leaders must make 'bold, strong' choices Yet, Budapest still blocks the Ukraine-NATO commission. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna has said Ukraine was granted NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) status by "automatic consensus." "Let me tell you about a little trick behind this. The decision to grant Ukraine this status was handled through the so-called 'automatic consensus' procedure," she told the Ukrainian TV news service TSN in an interview, answering a question about Hungary's position regarding the new partnership status for Kyiv. Read alsoU.S. envoy to NATO speaks of Ukraine's prospects for membership in alliance "A certain deadline was set for the North Atlantic Council's objections to the adoption of this decision, and it expired at 16:30 last Friday [June 12]. None of the countries had filed objections by that deadline. So the decision was considered automatically adopted," Stefanishyna said. Yet, Budapest still blocks the Ukraine-NATO commission, she said. "As for Hungary, the situation in the context of blocking the Ukraine-NATO commission has not changed in fact. This blocking still exists. At the same time, I would say there are different levels, i.e. an ongoing operational dialogue at a high level, where the blocking is under way," the official said. According to Stefanishyna, there is no "magic formula" for solving this problem. "The diplomatic services are now working hard. I think they are quite successful. The Ukrainian-Hungarian commission on economic cooperation to be chaired by the foreign minister will meet next week," she added. As UNIAN reported earlier, the North Atlantic Council on June 12 recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Ukraine will benefit from tailor-made opportunities to help sustain such contributions. This includes enhanced access to interoperability program and exercises, and more sharing of information, including lessons learned. When you need to warm up, what's your favorite winter comfort food? Mumbai, June 23 : Actor Sidharth Malhotra says coming to Mumbai to explore a career in Bollywood was not easy, adding that support from his family helped him a lot in his journey. Opening up about how his family supported his decision to move to Mumbai, Sidharth said: "I remember when I came to Mumbai I was 21 and staying here by myself, I really started appreciating the joint family that I grew up in, (with) so many people around." "I remember on the phone speaking to my parents, I would say why don't we have the habit of ending the call with love you mom, love you, dad. We at our Punjabi household never had a culture like this because none of us ever ventured out and stayed away that far. And I remember one day sitting down with my dad, telling him that whenever we say goodbye you are supposed to say goodbye by saying you love me and dad being the dad he was like 'ya ya, of course, I love you'," he added. The actor continued: "He took a beat and it was funny, at the same time, you can imagine so many fathers, especially of a grown-up child, a 21-year-old staying in a different city and asking their father to please tell love me before ending a call because. I realised it when I came to Mumbai to become an actor, it wasn't easy and I felt the only thing you fall back on is what your parents have taught you." Sidharth began his career as a model at the age of 18. He worked as an assistant director to filmmaker Karan Johar in the 2010 film "My Name Is Khan", before getting his break as an actor in Johar's 2012 teenybopper release, "Student of the Year". Over the years, he has been seen in films like "Hasee Toh Phasee", "Brothers", "Ek Villain" and "Kapoor & Sons" and "Baar Baar Dekho". The actor said that his parents didn't know he "wanted to grow up and become an actor". "I never thought when I was a teenager that it was possible to become a Bollywood actor coming from Delhi with no connections to the films. They were not shaping me up to an actor but to become a good human being I would say. And I mean this with utmost humility and not saying that I am a perfect example, But just to say that there are some basic qualities, I think I have inherited from my family and that's what I keep giving to people," said Sidharth during a virtual session with We The Planet. The actor thinks that a lot of issues in a society stem from harsh upbringing. "Whenever people talk about various issues within the country, starting with women's safety or security, it is something that the society has to fix and that stems from fixing the boys first. Having to give all the men in the world especially in India a good example starting from their fathers, because coming from experience I think subconsciously I have picked up so much from my father, even though he was traveling since he was in the merchant navy. He worked really hard to bring us up and give us a good lifestyle. That's when I realised that's where the key is," he said. N ewborn triplets in Mexico tested positive for coronavirus on the day of their birth. The trio were born on May 8 to a mother who also had Covid-19, although she was asymptomatic. The triplets are not believed to be in danger, Monica Rangel, the health secretary of northern state San Luis Potosi said. She said the case was being studied to determine whether the triplets were infected before or after birth. However, it appears improbable that they could have been infected outside the womb so quickly, Ms Rangel added. This is not the first time newborns have tested positive for the virus, but it is rare. The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA It comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Mexico rapidly increases. Nationwide, the country's confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 4,577 to 185,122. The confirmed death toll also rose by 759 to 22,584. However, both numbers are considered significant undercounts due to Mexico's very low levels of testing. Officials said that levels of infections appear to have stabilised, and held out hopes - as they have many times before - that the numbers may start declining soon. Millbrooks 4th Line Theatre will be hosting a farmers market beginning July 3. The theatre is opening its historic Winslow Farm to operate the market, which will take place every Friday in July and August. Sara Mountenay the theatres manager of marketing and development said in a statement that as everyone began to ease back into the newly opening world, the team at 4th Line Theatre began looking for ways to safely engage local residents. She said their team wants to promote all of the amazing products and services that local communities have to offer. With the decision made to postpone the 29th Summer Season, 4th Line wants to continue to welcome the community to the farm, surrounded by breathtaking rolling hills and stunning views, to enjoy exceptional outdoor experiences beginning with the newly announced Festival Friday Farmers Market, said Mountenay. The market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon until Aug. 28. According to Mountenay, vendors will be dispersed around the farm property with guests following a one-way directional track to ensure proper physical distancing. Kim Blackwell, the theatres managing artistic director, along with Robert Winslow, the theatres founder and creative director, said they cant wait to welcome vendors and guests, while helping to provide local vendors to share their products and a form of social connectivity. While we cannot welcome visitors to the farm in the traditional way, I hope you can join us and support local farmers and food vendors, said Blackwell in the statement. Vendors will include Black Honey a cafe located on Hunter Street in downtown Peterborough Pastry Peddler located in Millbrook, Bulbs N Things, Taste of Russia from Otonabee, Little Leaf Farms located in Cavan, Cody and Kelsies Vegetable Patch two young entrepreneurs from Millbrook Doo Doos Bakery in Bailieboro and 4th Line Theatre. At the beginning of June, the theatre announced that they had cancelled their entire 2020 season after the Ontario government announced that performing arts shows wouldnt be allowed to return until the third stage of the reopening of the provinces economy. The two productions that had been planned for the 2020 season The Great Shadow written by Alex Poch-Goldin, directed by Deb Williams, along with Maja Ardals Wishful Seeing directed by Blackwell will now take place next year instead. However, along with the new farmers market, the theatre is continuing with several online events throughout the summer like their Friday morning business talks with Blackwell and guests. For more information about the market and other virtual events, visit https://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca/. Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar, who was arrested under the anti-terror law UAPA in April, has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February. The bail was granted after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the state agrees, on humanitarian grounds, to release Safoora on regular bail subject to certain conditions. Zargar, an M Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia, is 23 weeks pregnant. Mehta said that without going into the merits of the plea, and without considering this as a precedent, the state has no problem with her being released on bail provided she doesn't indulge in activities she's being investigated for. The court, while granting regular bail to her on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000, said that Zargar will have to seek permission of the concerned court before leaving Delhi for any purpose, and will have to get in touch with the investigating officer every 15 days. This was the fourth time that lawyers of the Jamia Millia Islamia student and Anti-CAA activist Zargar were moving court for bail ever since she was arrested on April 10. The first time was on April 18 when the stringent UAPA was not yet invoked. The plea was rejected on April 21 after the invocation of the anti-terror law. Then again on May 2, a bail application was moved, but withdrawn after arguments in court. The third bail application was rejected by court on June 4. Opposing her bail, Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, had on Monday said that 39 deliveries have taken place in Tihar Jail in the last 10 years and pregnancy is no ground to give bail to Zargar. Submitting its status report in the Delhi High Court, Delhi Police maintained that her pregnancy does not dilute the gravity of her alleged crime and that she is being given adequate medical care in the jail. "There is no exception carved out for pregnant inmate, who is accused of such heinous crime, to be released on bail merely because of pregnancy. To the contrary, the law provides for adequate safeguards and medical attention during their custody in jail," stated the report submitted in the court by Delhi Police. It added there have been enough precedents to show not only arrest and detention of pregnant women but also their deliveries in jails, for which guidelines have been laid out in law according to the Supreme Court's directions. "It is respectfully submitted that till date 39 deliveries have taken place in Delhi prison in last 10 years," said the report, adding Zargar is not entitled to any "preferential treatment" when the law itself permits such kind of sanctions against a certain class of offenders. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. PNMs Helping Hand Tuesdays start this week providing relief for low-income customers. This three-week initiative urges customers facing an unexpected financial hardship to call 505-967-8045 on Tuesdays, through July 7, for up to $150 towards their PNM bill, organizer said in a news release. Customers should call: Tuesday, June 23 from 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, from 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, from 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m. Public Service Company of New Mexico said in a news release that this service for qualified customers is a credit, not a loan. Applicants will need to provide digital copies of the following to receive help with PNM bills: proof of income and identification for everyone living in the home; LIHEAP approval letter dated either 2019 or 2020 from state Human Services Department; if no income, then proof of no income is required, proof of food stamps will work; your PNM Bill. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. Local firm Herod Financial Services has donated $20,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridges (CMHA HKPR)s Journeying Together program as part of the Great Canadian Giving Challenge. The virtual fundraiser is running from June 1 to June 30. The Journeying Together program provides education and support to about 250 people each year, including caregivers and family members of people facing mental health concerns. CMHA HKPR would like to sincerely thank Kevan and Roberta Herod, founders of Herod Financial Services, for their generous donation, states a press release. To learn more about the Giving Challenge or to donate, visit www.cmhahkpr.ca/donate. If you've step outside your house anytime each August, there's a good chance someone will try to stuff a Hatch chile down your throat. It's just that time of year in Texas, where many residents divide the year not based on what's on the calendar, but by what's on the menu. After all, who needs to be told that spring is here when you can hear your neighbor's crawfish boil from the other side of the fence? And it just wouldn't be Christmas without a little Feliz Tamale'dad. Or September without a Septem'beer at Oktoberfest. Check out what other Texas-only food seasons you can tell without looking at a calendar. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias will meet with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on Wednesday, 24 June, and together they will visit Kastanies in Evros. Their talks will focus on EU-Turkey relations, with emphasis on Turkeys escalating provocations against the EU, including the violation of Greeces sovereign rights and the exploitation of the migration issue. The prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance could be out of prison in Germany on parole by next week. Christian Brueckner's lawyers have filed a request for him to be released after serving two thirds of his 21-month drug sentence in Kiel, Germany. Now prosecutors fear the 43-year-old could flee the country after his release, making it impossible for them to pursue him over Maddie's disappearance. The case has now been passed to Germany's Federal Court in Karlsruhe and officials are expected to decide within the next week if he should be released. In 2011, Brueckner was sentenced to 21 months in jail for his part in a drugs trafficking ring that supplied marijuana to VIP clients. The convicted paedophile and rapist was announced as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Maddie in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007. Christian Brueckner's lawyers have filed a request for him to be released as early as next week Prosecutors have said they have concrete evidence that Maddie is dead. Now, a source close to the German investigation has told the Sun: 'If the superior court decides to free him then it will severely impact the case. 'He could vanish and then we will not be able to put him on trial. We are fighting for him to be kept in court.' The suspect's legal team have also taken the case to the European Court of Justice claiming that there was a breach of European Arrest Warrant regulations when Brueckner was extradited from Italy to Germany. He was flown back to Germany in 2018 on a warrant issued for the drugs offence. However, he was also then put on trial and convicted of the rape of a 72-year-old American woman at her villa in Praia da Luz in 2005. In December, he was sentenced to seven years but is appealing the conviction and, under German law, the jail term has yet to be imposed. Brueckner has a long history of crimes, having first been jailed as a teenager for molesting a six-year-old. Kiel Prison in Kiel, Germany where Madeleine McCann suspect and convicted German paedophile Christian Brueckner is being held The convicted paedophile and rapist was announced as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Maddie After being released in 1996, aged 19, he fled Germany. He is thought to have then committed a series of crimes, including burglaries and sexual assaults, while abroad. He was jailed in Portugal in 2006 for stealing diesel. A blue Bedford van that the prime suspect owned at the time Maddie went missing was impounded for the non-payment of a fine for stealing fuel and reportedly later crushed before it could be searched for evidence. German drifter Brueckner used to live and sleep in the van on the beach near Praia da Luz between February and April 2006 while he was unemployed and homeless. Crucially he still owned the van in May 2007 when Madeleine disappeared in the coastal resort, according to the respected Portuguese newspaper Expresso. Crimes committed at a Westfield shopping centre in Melbourne have become so serious that police have been forced to patrol the area on horseback to keep patrons safe. The Fountain Gate centre in Narre Warren in Melbourne's southeast has seen offences increase by 104 per cent from 2014 to the end of 2019, with crimes growing from 448 incidents to 914, Victorian Crime Statistics Agency data showed. Criminal activity has become such a problem in and around shopping centres that Victorian police have had to increase regular patrols and launch several investigations, with data showing offences have increased by 90 per cent over the past five years. Westfield Fountain Gate recorded the highest number of offences in the state, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. More than 14 crimes were committed each day at Melbourne shopping centres in 2019, two of which were violent. Westfield Fountain Gate (pictured) in Narre Warren in Melbourne's southeast have seen offences increase by 104 per cent from 2014 to the end of 2019 The Westfield Geelong centre southwest of Melbourne is another crime hot spot, with 330 criminal offences recorded from 2018 to 2019. Of the offences, 245 involved property and deception, which includes stealing products from stores, and 38 were more violent crimes. The data also shows 20 public order and security offences were reported at the shopping centre, consisting of crimes such as disorderly and offensive conduct and public nuisance and security offences. Figures show 843 crimes were committed at the Northland Shopping Centre in Preston in the five years to the end of 2019, while Southland in Cheltenham had 567 offences. Crimes have become such a problem in and around shopping centres that Victoria police have increased regular patrols and executed several investigations - as data showed offences have increased by 90 per cent over the past five years Though individual instances of violent crimes aren't as high, Chadstone shopping centre in the city's east saw violence offences increas by 117 per cent, the highest recorded. This was followed by an increase of 105 per cent at the Eastland shopping centre in Ringwood. Victoria Police spokeswoman Amelia Penhall said investigations like Operation Tidal in Narre Warren are being executed to curb shopping centre crime. 'Since Operation Tidal commenced in April last year, police have made more than 1000 arrests,' Ms Penhall told the Herald Sun. 'Operation Tidal is ongoing and police will continue to arrest and charge offenders as required. 'We are committed to addressing youth related offending with a focus on robberies, public order offending and vehicle crime linked to serious offending.' Westfield Geelong (pictured) southwest of Melbourne recorded 330 criminal offences from 2018-2019 The shocking figures come after Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15, died after he was allegedly attacked by a group of youths outside the Brimbank Shopping Centre in Melbourne's west at about 4pm on June 16. He and his cousin were allegedly approached by a group of about 10 youths armed with knives. 'Detectives believe the fatal affray was as a result of tensions between two youth gangs in the western suburbs and have identified the gangs involved,' Victoria Police said in a statement calling for public help. Investigators are also looking at an assault that occurred at the Brimbank Shopping Centre the day before Solomone was killed. [June 23, 2020] Canada's Leading All-In-One HR Platform, Humi, Closes $15M Series A Humi, Canada's leading all-in-one HR platform that provides small to medium-sized businesses with HR, Payroll, and Benefits solutions, today announces $15M CAD in financing, including both equity and debt. The raise is led by Tribe Capital, a prominent US venture capital firm whose team has funded successful software companies, including Slack and Carta. To help meet the growing demand for its products and services, the funding will be used to further develop Humi's software as Canada's only true all-in-one people solution. "Humi was founded on the notion that people are the most important part of any business," said Simon Bourgeois, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Humi. "We are proud to have helped over 4,000 Canadian companies maximize their efficiencies and be better employers, and we're on a mission to do the same for the other million." With COVID-19 bringing a new shift in traditional businesses adopting a remote-friendly work culture, there is more demand than ever for cloud-based employment solutions. Since March, Humi has seen an 80% increase in demand from companies looking to hire, onboard, pay, and track vacation all from within the cloud. "Cloud-based HR, Payroll and Benefits systems are continuing to make a big impact in the US, and we are excited about the massive potentil for Humi to lead the growth of this industry within Canada," said Ted Maidenberg, Co-Founder and Partner at Tribe Capital. "If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it's that a company's people are their most valuable asset, and we are thrilled to invest in Humi whose product allows employees to be supported regardless of location." Launched in 2016 via the Y Combinator startup accelerator, Humi's mission is to make life easier for businesses and their employees through streamlining employment processes into an all-in-one people software. While most HR tech companies build for customers in multiple countries, Humi has made the decision to be hyper-focused on the Canadian market and is supporting employers and employees with built-in product features that reflect the nuances of building and employing people within Canada. Saving employers time and money, Humi's product consistently remains up-to-date with provincial government employment regulations while also offering education for employers on these updates. "Humi is an intuitive, easy-to-use platform for both our employees and the People & Culture team," said Bianca Ciccarelli, Director of People & Culture at Greenhouse Juice and Humi customer. "Running a lean business is important to us and optimizing our employment practices through Humi has helped our team save time on the entire employee lifecycle, while also giving our employees access to a people platform that suits their needs." For more information, visit www.humi.ca. About Humi: Humi is Canada's leading HR, Payroll, and Benefits solution for small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. Committed to uplifting Canadian businesses and their people, Humi supports and enables employees to take better care of their most important asset: their people. Before Humi, there was no truly unified solution that tied together all of the intricacies of employment for Canadian SMBs. About Tribe Capital: Tribe Capital is an early stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. Tribe invests in Seed through Series B with an investment focus on recognizing and amplifying early stage product-market fit utilizing a collection of quantitative techniques that have been developed and honed over several years. Tribe Capital aims to combine the best of modern data science and analytics with the best of traditional venture capital to create n of 1 outcomes for its portfolio and investors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005252/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, June 25, 2020 09:27 576 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660cbbed 1 World migrant-workers,fishing-industry,sailor,China,Indonesia Free Most Indonesians were taught at school to be proud of their seafaring ancestors, but such pride has not translated into sufficient state protection. The livelihood remains among the most vulnerable to exploitation. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prepares to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer on June 25, public sentiment in Indonesia is dominated by shock and outrage. In recent months, a series of reports have emerged of Indonesian seafarers enduring poor working conditions aboard Chinese fishing vessels, including grueling hours and inhumane treatment. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announced in May that four Indonesian sailors who had been registered to the Chinese fishing vessel Long Xin 629 had died. The deaths of the four sailors, one of whom was buried at sea, exposed the grim conditions that Indonesian migrant workers face in the fisheries sector. Earlier this month, two Indonesians jumped off a Chinese vessel as it was underway in the Strait of Malacca. They were allegedly victims of human trafficking. According to a report by Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW), at least 30 Indonesian crew members were victims of such violations aboard Chinese vessels between November 2019 and June of this year. Seven of those sailors reportedly died, three remain missing, and 20 have survived. Anjar Prihantoro, deputy head of protection at the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI), said that despite the wide media exposure over the past weeks, China ranks fourth among nations with the highest number of complaints from workers aboard fishing vessels. Speaking at the launch of a policy brief by the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI), Anjar said that the most complaints came from workers aboard vessels from Taiwan, South Korea and Peru, based on data collected from 2018 to May of this year. Almost half of the 411 complaints we received were about unpaid salaries, which means their companies werent bona fide, he said. Other problems that were cited include deaths in the country of destination, work accidents, workers wishing to be discharged and manning agencies withholding legal documents. The IOJI delivered several recommendations to improve governance, such as calling for the issuance of bylaws for the 2017 Migrant Worker Protection Law and the ratification of international conventions governing the protection of crew members aboard fishing vessels. During the same discussion, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said the modern slavery experienced by Indonesian seafarers was rooted in a flawed placement process. She pointed out how the issuance of licenses for placement agencies was susceptible to abuse because of a lack of recruitment data collection, training and certification for prospective crew members. The monitoring process was also unenforced, she said. I met some of the workers who had come back from [South] Korea. Almost all of them lacked protections and skills and consequently received low salaries and worked at unlicensed agencies. These are a few examples out of the thousands of other cases. It was really striking, Ida said. She said the recent incidents had put pressure on the government to fast-track the implementing regulations for the 2017 law, particularly for protections aboard commercial vessels. The 2017 Migrant Worker Protection Law is the legal umbrella for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers, including crew aboard foreign fishing vessels. The government missed the legally mandated deadline to issue the laws implementing regulations in November of last year. At the moment, we have completed the draft regulation, and it has been submitted to the State Secretariat. We are also hoping that the government regulations will come out soon, she said. In the draft regulation, she said, it was hoped that the protection of fishing vessel crew members would be more comprehensive and include provisions governing pre- and postplacement protections in addition to the guarantees during the length of employment. She said the forthcoming bylaw sought to tackle most of the unresolved issues, such as overlapping licenses, poor data collection and poor coordination among ministries and institutions. It also touched on the problem of low worker competencies and poor supervision. We absolutely must evaluate and take corrective steps to significantly minimize the problems they face at work, the minister said. Ida said she was discussing the overlapping licensing and related issues with the Transportation Ministry and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. Indonesian Ambassador to Norway Todung Mulya Lubis said the government should establish a database on employers of migrant workers to facilitate assistance in the event of human rights and legal violations. Todung said it would not be easy to improve governance because foreign fishing vessels often used flags of convenience and registered the vessel in a different country from that of the owner, complicating legal jurisdictions. The government needs to prepare a standard for contracts of employment for crew, for example by requiring a legal insurance clause for them, he said. MENOMINEE COUNTY, MI Police say speed and alcohol were factors in a crash that killed a Michigan man in the Upper Peninsula. WLUC-TV reports that 29-year-old Luis Angel Maldonado Rosario, of Daggett, was killed in the single-vehicle crash that occurred on US-41 near Belgiumtown Road in Menominee Countys Daggett Township around 11:17 p.m. on June 20. Deputies say Rosario was driving north on US-41 when he lost control, crossed the center line, left the roadway and hit multiple trees. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the TV station reported. Alcohol and speed were a factor in the crash, deputies said. The Menominee County Sheriffs Office team was assisted by the Daggett Township Fire Department, Mid County Rescue Squad and Extradition and the Michigan State Police. Ghanaians stranded in the UK must submit their details to the Ghana High Commission not later than close of day on Wednesday 24th June 2020. This is to make way for the second batch of evacuation scheduled on Satuday, June 27. The Ghana High Commission in the UK has said in a statement copied to ModernGhana News. The High Commission indicated that travellers must be willing to cover the cost of travel and mandatory quarantine. Interested applicants are to note the following: Cost of airline ticket: the negotiated rate off are with KLM from London SHOULD be paid directly to the airline which will contact ONLY passengers who fulfil all the requirements as set out in points (d) and (e); Passengers who are already in possession of KLM or Airfrance return tickets will be allowed to use those tickets for the flight. Such passengers should furnish KLM with a copy of the return ticket through the High Commission; (C) Passengers are to carry the appropriate PPE ie. Face masks before boarding the flight; All passengers are also to note that they will cover the cost of the 14-day mandatory quarantine with a possible extension to 21 days depending on individual cases. The cost of quarantine as indicated below PER MGHT MUST be paid directly to a selected hotel before passengers are allowed to travel. Check accommodation rates below: THE NEGOTIATED DISCOUNTED RATES FOR THE HOTELS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Darryle Adams was on his knees on a Queens street, begging for his life. He had emptied his pockets after four men mugged him after dark. One of the men had pointed a gun at him. A second man, in a wheelchair, had struck Mr. Adams in the head with a bottle. Then the gunman shot Mr. Adams in the back of the head. Four days later, on March 11, 1994, detectives showed up to the home of 18-year-old Samuel Brownridge and took him to the police station. I never made it home, Mr. Brownridge, now 45, said in a recent telephone interview. Mr. Brownridge was arrested several days after he was first detained at the station, where two men identified him in a photo array and in a lineup as the shooter. Their testimony was all prosecutors needed to persuade a jury to convict Mr. Brownridge of murder in 1995. He served nearly 25 years in prison before being paroled in March of last year. From the beginning, he said that he had been at home with his girlfriend and son at the time of the shooting. The New York Times Droplets of fiery rain. Thats how Henry Clifton Sorby, a 19th-century British mineralogist, described the tiny spheres called chondrules found within meteorites. Chondrules are such dominant features of these meteorites that they are called chondrites, and they account for 86% of meteorites that have been found on Earth. Their origin, however, remains a mystery. Now some scientists think they have a new answer to this rocky enigma: The chondrites may have formed in an unusual event during a narrow window of time in the early solar system. The findings were presented at a virtual meeting of the American Astronomical Society by William Herbst and James Greenwood of Wesleyan University in Connecticut. To form, chondrules must be heated and then cooled rapidly, a scenario that is difficult to explain. So the researchers came up with a model for an idea they thought might work, then simulated the conditions with rocks in a lab furnace. Their results suggest a crowded landscape in the early inner solar system, with a nascent sun surrounded by thousands of planetesimals, the rocky building blocks of planets, each tens of miles or so in size. On some of their surfaces were oceans of lava that reached temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. When even smaller rocky bodies asteroids got close to these young worlds, they would have been briefly heated by this lava. That rapidly melted portions of these objects, which then passed by and cooled to form chondrules. It has long been assumed that meteorites that make it to Earth are similar to most of the space rocks that travel around the solar system in areas like the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But if Herbst and Greenwood are correct, the implications are significant. Because flybys over worlds with lava oceans might not have been that common, chondrites might actually be quite rare. Rather than being representative of other asteroids, the model would instead suggest Earths meteorites give us a window into how planets form, Herbst said. Not everyone is convinced. Harold Connolly, an asteroid specialist at Rowan University in New Jersey, said one issue is that about 15% to 20% of chondrules appear to have experienced multiple heating events, not just one. There may be a way to test the hypothesis soon. Two space missions are aiming to return samples of near-Earth asteroids to our planet in the coming years. Jonathan O'Callaghan c.2020 The New York Times Company Janice Clark, the 19th Judicial District Court's senior judge, has filed a lawsuit challenging Louisiana's mandatory retirement age for members of the judiciary. She says that preventing the election of people over age 70 to the bench is "completely unfair." Clark is 73. She sued the state Monday, claiming the mandatory judicial retirement age amounts to unconstitutional age discrimination. She said she will file paperwork next month to seek another term. "I expect to run and win," she said Tuesday during an interview in her 19th JDC office. She is joined in the suit by a nonprofit association called Louisiana Voters for an Experienced Judiciary, or LVEJ. The lawsuit, filed in the 19th JDC and assigned to state District Judge Don Johnson, seeks to halt enforcement of the mandatory retirement age while the suit plays out. "It's just a denial of equal protection," she said. "It might be law, but it's not justice. It's completely unfair. Justice for all. That's all we want." The state Attorney General's Office declined comment. Clark has served on the 19th JDC bench since 1992. "The way I feel is that my work is not finished," she said. "I know there's something I can contribute." The lawsuit claims that nearly 60 judges from across the state would be prevented from taking office again after the November election if the age cap stands. "Petitioners believe that there is no legitimate reason to discriminate against someone who desires to serve as a Judge simply based on the age of that individual," lawyers Ernest L. Johnson and Arthur R. Thomas argue in the lawsuit. LVEJ desires to retain wise and experienced judges, the lawsuit says. "Petitioners allege that, in an elective system, the voters, not the legislature or the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, shall decide when a judge will no longer be allowed to serve," the lawsuit states. The Judiciary Commission is named as a defendant in the suit because, barring a change to the age cap, it is the agency that would actually have to remove Clark from the bench if she wins election to another term. State voters upheld the age cap in 2014. Even though the state Constitution sets a mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges, it allows them to serve out the remainder of their terms if they reach that age while in office. 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 Applying the mandatory retirement age only to judges who are 70 or over when they are elected is a violation of their rights to equal protection, Clark and LVEJ contend. They also note that the age limitation does not apply to ad hoc judges, who frequently serve well past the age of 70 while discharging their duties "competently and fairly." Clark and the association also allege that the age limitation is "completely arbitrary" in that it was not the result of any empirical data or "any findings that judges over the age of 70 possessed any characteristics that would interfere with the performance of their duties." "Further still, any health-based rationale for imposing an age limit of 70 in 1973 (the existence of which Petitioners strenuously deny) would no longer be relevant in 2020, after almost five decades of significant medical advances in the field of medicine and the treatment of older individuals," the suit argues. The 1921 Louisiana constitution had set the mandatory retirement age for state judges at 75. The 1974 state constitution capped the age at 70. Clark said the retirement age for judges prior to the 1921 Constitution was 80. Clark isn't the first Louisiana judge to challenge the mandatory judicial retirement age. In April, New Orleans Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell, 72, filed a lawsuit in Orleans Parish Civil District Court seeking to have the judicial age cap declared null and void. The lawsuit is pending. Cantrell is New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's father-in-law. Several years ago, long-tenured Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Frank Marullo Jr. won a spot on the ballot and a majority of the vote at the age of 74, but the question of whether he could actually serve was left unresolved. The state Supreme Court took him off the bench for more than a year while he pressed his claim that he should be allowed to run past age 70 and continue serving. In the end, Marullo resigned before the case was decided. He retired on his 76th birthday and was Louisiana's longest-serving judge. The mandatory judicial retirement age also could be an issue in a Baton Rouge City Court race currently on the July 11 ballot. Johnell Matthews, one of five candidates in the race, was 69 when she qualified in January to run in what was to be an April 4 election, but the coronavirus pandemic and resulting statewide stay-at-home order pushed the election date back. She turned 70 this month. Matthews says she should not be penalized for circumstances that are entirely out of her control. Clark is no stranger to litigation. In 1986, before she became a judge, she led a group of Black lawyers in a lawsuit against the state over its judicial system. At the time there were only a dozen Black judges, most in New Orleans, out of more than 200 in Louisiana. A legal settlement agreed to by then-Gov. Edwin Edwards in 1992 carved out 25 subdistricts from the state's district, appellate and juvenile courts, creating majority Black voting blocs from which to elect judges. I feel sorry watching the history of black suffering in America. While I have been lucky in almost all my 52 years here in America, I believe the solution to the descendants of the slave traders and other nations respecting blacks comes from the mother continent, Africa. Americans, white and black, are to me, among the nicest and most welcoming people on earth. Compares to other cultures I have studied in my life, Americans will share their knowledge and their meal and even money! Mistakes of the past can be corrected, but it starts with the Shaka Zulu survival mindset, as I have explained in my last book Life is War. There are ways we in Africa can show the white man (as Westerners are called in Africa) and Asians, that we are also somebody worth respecting, and that can come directly from trade choices! South African apartheid finally came to an end when prominent African-Americans pushed for a boycott of all American Corporations doing business with or in South Africa. Immediately and within months those corporations put pressure to bear and blacks in South Africa were on their way to self-dignity as humans and Mandela were freed! That is why Nelson Mandela came to America and sounded so grateful to all Western nations as also Cuba and others. The POINT is that in life respect comes from asserting what we have and are, against what the other man needs to survive and cope! This happens when we can create and manufacture most of or all the products we consume without them and - can leverage what we have (oil, gold, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, iron ore, titanium, etc) and control and bargain with them without our survival being threatened! The 1973 Arab oil boycott was the first example of such global leverage and that won the Arabs respect till today! After all the Arabs could survive with little in those days! Let the black race learn to win our dignity and respect, for after all, we are also somebody created by the same God they and we all worship! Dr. K. Danso- Jun.23, 2020 Livermore, California, USA (Engineer and Organizational & Management/Leadership Consultant) Author of: LIFE IS WAR! (2017, Page Publishing) And Leadership Concepts and the Role of Government in Africa: The Case of Ghana (2007, XLibris) In an official statement, MEA alleged that Pakistan high commission officials have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations. India on Tuesday announced that it has taken a decision to reduce the staff strength in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and Indian mission in Islamabad by 50 per cent as behaviour of the neighbouring country and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday summoned Charge d Affaires of Pakistan Syed Haider Shah and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of Pakistan High Commission. The decision to reduce the strength of high commission officials, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to Shah. The MEA, in a statement, said Pakistan high commission officials have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations. Read Also: International relations must come to terms with contemporary realities: S Jaishankar at RIC meeting Read Also: China encroaching Nepali land through road construction: Govt report The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on May 31, 2020 was one example in that regard. The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism, the statement read. Therefore, the Government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent. It would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion. This decision, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to the Pakistani Charge dAffaires, it added. Yesterday, two of Indian officials working with Indian mission in Pakistan, who were forcibly abducted by Pakistani agencies on June 15 and kept in illegal custody for more than 10 hours, returned to India. Earlier this month, two of the Pakistan High Commission officials were caught spying and were sent back. India has time and again accused and caught red-handed Pak High Commission officials indulging in non-diplomatic activities like funding of separatists, money laundering and espionage. The MEA said Pakistan officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission and also Pakistan has in parallel engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions. The recent abduction at gunpoint of two Indian officials and their severe ill-treatment underlines the extent to which Pakistan has gone in that direction. These officials, who have returned to India on June 22, 2020, have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies, it added. Read Also: Pak fails to charge Indian citizen as global terrorist at UNSC For all the latest World News, download NewsX App A man who survived a loyalist shooting and campaigned for a pension for Troubles' victims has died before he was able to avail of the delayed scheme. Members of the Wave Injured Group - who have been campaigning for a special recognition payment for those severely injured through no fault of their own during the Troubles - were left "shocked and deeply saddened" by the sudden death yesterday morning of long-time member Paddy Cassidy. Mr Cassidy, who had severe spinal injuries as a result of a random loyalist gun attack in September 1971, took ill at his home in north Belfast and died before an ambulance could take him to hospital. Wave coordinator Alan McBride said: "There was not a day since his injury as a 21-year-old nearly 50 years ago when Paddy was free from pain. "Despite that, his commitment to seeing recognition and acknowledgement of the great harm done to him and others like him was phenomenal." The pension scheme, which had been due to open to applications last month, has been stalled amid a row about eligibility and a dispute between Stormont and London over funding. Among those Mr Cassidy lobbied for the pension at Westminster in 2018 was former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain. "I well remember meeting Paddy with the other members of the Wave Injured Group and was struck by his courage and tenacity," the Labour peer said. "Not only am I saddened to learn of his sudden death, I am also very angry that political intransigence at Stormont has denied Paddy and all the others who have campaigned for recognition and acknowledgement access to the pension he had fought so hard for." Paddy Cassidy is survived by his wife Patricia, sons Edward and Michael and daughter Patricia. His funeral service will take place on Thursday in Ardoyne. Accusing the government of engaging in denials, disinformation and diversions on Chinese intrusions in Indian territory and mismanaging the matter, and alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on the issue stood in contradiction to the positions of the ministry of defence and external affairs, the Congress has asked the government about steps being taken to ensure the restoration of status quo ante at the border. At a virtual meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party also strongly critiqued the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic and said it had abandoned its responsibilities and had not unveiled a coherent strategy, even as the infection curve was rising exponentially. The main national opposition also accused the government of profiteering by fleecing citizens with the repeated increases in petrol and diesel prices. The meeting, chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi, was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, all Congress chief ministers and senior leaders. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rebutted the Congresss criticism, and claimed that it was deriving sadistic pleasure from the India-China stand-off. In her opening remarks, Sonia Gandhi said, It is said misfortunes do not come singly. India has been hit by a terrible economic crisis, a pandemic of huge proportions and, now, by a full-blown crisis on the borders with China. Much of each crisis is attributable to the mismanagement of the BJP-led NDA government and the wrong policies pursued by it. She added that the cumulative effect was widespread misery, fear, and danger to the security and territorial integrity of the country. On the PMs statement On China, the Congress president, while hoping for mature diplomacy and decisive leadership in protecting Indias territorial integrity, critiqued the PM for his statement on Friday that there was no (external) presence in Indian territory. The Prime Ministers Office subsequently clarified that his remark pertained to the situation in the Galwan Valley, where 20 personnel of the Indian army were killed in clashed on June 15. Rahul Gandhi too critiqued the government on its China policy. He claimed that China had brazenly occupied Indian territory and accused the PM of destroying our position and betraying the army by accepting Chinas position. The Chinese cant be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land. He claimed that the PM had demolished the institutional structure of Indian diplomacy. Former PM Manmohan Singh told the CWC that the crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation. A formal CWC resolution said, The Prime Ministers statement has had far reaching implications. He cannot allow his words to be used by the Chinese as a vindication of their position, when it is clear that the brazen transgressions into our territory were committed by them. It added that for China to make audacious claims over Indian territory, including Galwan Valley, by resorting to unilateral and unprovoked acts of transgression and incursion could not be tolerated or accepted. The BJP hit back at the Congress for deriving sadistic pleasure from the ongoing India-China stand-off. India has not surrendered an inch of its land, but the Congress has surrendered it shame, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. Why is the Congress deriving sadistic pleasure by showing that India is not performing well? It is not only worrying, but also indicates a conspiracy, he said, claiming that the stand-off with China was a legacy issue. On the timing of the Congress critique, Sanjay Kumar, political analyst at the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) said that both political parties had politicised the issue of national security. I dont consider it right that Congress is asking questions of government on China but this culture was started by BJP when it was in opposition. It didnt start in last 6-7 days. There has been a deterioration in politics. We saw it in campaign and now in governance. Congress is also fighting its game for survival and they are looking for some opportunity to corner the BJP. On Covid-19 management The Congress also put forth a detailed critique of the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. While lauding Corona warriors, the party said it was astonishing that the government had not unveiled a coherent strategy on reducing fatalities, increasing testing, contact tracing and ensuring social distancing and safety for the most vulnerable population. It alleged that there was no nationwide data on hospital beds and ventilators and that the PM-Cares fund was severely under-utilised and managed without transparency. The party demanded that the government cap prices of treatment in private hospitals, ensure price control and easy availability of drugs, and impose penalties on defaulting insurance companies. Sonia Gandhi said within weeks of the coronavirus lockdown, it was apparent that the government was totally unprepared to manage its fallout. The result was the greatest humanitarian crisis witnessed since 1947-48. Millions of migrant workers, daily wage earners and self-employed were devastated. 130 million jobs are estimated to have been lost. Crores of MSMEs have been shut, perhaps forever, Gandhi claimed. She added that a sliding economy is now hurtling toward a recession for the first time in 42 years. I am afraid there will be high unemployment, falling incomes and wages, and lower investment. The BJP dismissed the criticism on the governments management of the pandemic. Patra said, It is unfortunate that the Congress is doing politics of misfortune. India is capable to fight C for Corona, C for China and of course C for conspiracies of Congress as well. We can fight all this and let me assure you India will emerge victorious of all the misfortunes that Sonia Gandhi was talking about. On fuel prices The Congress also raised the issue of the fuel price hike, with the party president saying that the government had added insult to injury by mercilessly raising petrol and diesel prices for 17 consecutive days, at a time when world prices of crude have fallen. In a resolution, the CWC said this unjustly enriched the government at the cost of people struggling with rising unemployment, deep income shortfalls and significant salary cuts. It demanded a rollback of the hike and passing the benefit of low oil prices directly to citizens. The Congress is planning a nationwide agitation on the issue after oil companies on Tuesday hiked auto fuel rates for the 17th day in a row by 20 paise a litre and 55 paise respectively. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Donald Trump Tulsa REUTERS/Leah Millis At least eight advance team staffers who were involved in President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally on Saturday have tested positive for COVID-19. Two of the staffers actually attended the rally, the campaign announced on Monday, adding that they were wearing masks throughout the event. Prior to the rally, public health experts expressed concerns that it could become a superspreader event for COVID-19. Despite such concerns and the rising number of cases in Oklahoma and elsewhere, Trump went ahead with the rally. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Two staffers on President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign who were at the president's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19, the campaign announced on Monday. This brings the total number of Trump advance team staffers infected with coronavirus who were involved with the rally to at least eight, including two Secret Service agents. Six of these staffers helped set up the rally but the Trump campaign said they did not attend after it was discovered they were infected, and quarantine measures were immediately initiated. The additional two staffers were found to have the virus after the Tulsa rally when they were tested as a precaution for flying home, Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, told Monica Alba of NBC News. "After another round of testing for campaign staff in Tulsa, two additional members of the advance team tested positive for the coronavirus. These staff members attended the rally but were wearing masks during the entire event," Murtaugh told NBC News. Top public health experts raised concerns about Trump holding a rally amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to roughly 120,000 reported deaths in the US thus far. The general worry was that the rally could become a superspreader event for the virus. Story continues White House coronavirus advisers Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci were among those who expressed consternation over the rally, according to NBC News, but Trump still went ahead with it. The president has repeatedly dismissed guidance from his own experts, including a recommendation for people to wear masks or face-coverings when in public. Local officials were also worried that the event could contribute to the spread of the virus, with cases on the rise in recent days. "I'm not positive that everything is safe," Mayor GT Bynum, a Republican, said last Wednesday when discussing Trump's rally. Coronavirus case data tends to lag roughly two weeks behind new infections, given the nature of the virus, so it's too soon to know whether Trump's rally contributed to a surge in cases. But Oklahoma officials on Monday reported 478 new coronavirus cases, a record high for the state. A supporter sits alone in the top sections of seating as Vice President Mike Pence speaks before President Donald Trump arrives for a "Make America Great Again!" rally at the BOK Center on Saturday, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Though the Trump campaign expected a massive turnout at the Tulsa rally, only about 6,200 people attended the event at the Bank of Oklahoma Center, an arena that can hold a little over 19,000. The president was reportedly shocked and enraged over the low turnout. The rally in Tulsa was Trump's first such campaign event since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. Trump's next campaign event is set to occur in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday. A recent Insider survey of public officials from several 2020 battlegrounds revealed a number of places do not want to host political rallies for Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden anytime soon due to concerns over COVID-19. Read the original article on Business Insider Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo State 2020 Governorship Election, said he does not n... Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo State 2020 Governorship Election, said he does not need a godfather to win the election. Ize-Iyamu stated this on Monday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV. Ize-Iyamu, who emerged winner of the APC primary, said he won the election without Oshiomholes presence in Edo and will do it again. When asked if he had the blessings of the suspended National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and what was his relationship with him. He said, The only godfather I have is God. I am sure that is obvious to you. Adams Oshiomhole is the national chairman of the party and I have immense respect for him. And there are other leaders. Adams Oshiomhole was not in Edo today and yet I won the 18 local governments. We have mutual respect for each other and I will not disrespect him because anybody wants to insult him. All I want to let you know is that I am well grounded in Edo. People know me; I have lived there all my life and they believe in me. And they want somebody that understands their problems and is able to solve them. I am sincere, focused and I have a clear-cut agenda of what I want to do. That is why I am standing and I believe on the basis that I will win the election overwhelmingly. I dont need any godfather to win. By Online Desk The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar, who was under custody for alleged involvement in Delhi riots after Centre agreed to release her on humanitarian grounds. Zargar, who is 23 weeks pregnant, was arrested under the anti-terror law --UAPA--, in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February. At the outset of the hearing, Mehta, representing Delhi Police, submitted that Zargar can be released on regular bail on humanitarian grounds and the decision has not been taken on merits of the case and should not be made a precedent. Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, released Zargar on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and surety of like amount. The court said she shall not indulge in any activity for which she has been charged with and shall not hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. It also said that in case Zargar needs to travel, she has to seek permission from the trial court and will remain in touch with the investigating officer of the case over mobile phone once in 15 days. Mehta, who was briefed by advocates Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair, said the order which is based on concession shall not be cited or treated as a precedent in any other case. "Without in any manner conceding to the factual assertions and legal submissions made by the petitioner and without in any manner diluting the contents and submissions made in the reply filed thereto and without making it a precedent either in on-going investigations or any other investigation, purely on humanitarian ground, the prosecution agrees if the petitioner is released on regular bail," said the statement read out in the court by Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi. Mehta also urged the court to impose certain bail conditions on the accused woman. Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing Zargar, said she has no difficulty with the statement made by the Solicitor General. The court made it clear that the order is not passed on merits and it be not treated as precedent. On Monday, Mehta had sought a day's time to take instructions on the issue. Delhi Police, in its status report, opposed Zargar's bail plea saying a clear and cogent case has been made out against her as such she is not entitled to bail in view of grave and serious offences which have been meticulously and surreptitiously planned and executed by her. The police said there is strong, cogent, reliable and sufficient material available proving the direct involvement of Zargar, M Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia University. The police said she has been lodged in a separate cell and chances of her contracting coronavirus from any other person do not arise. Further, it maintained that there is no exception carved out for a pregnant inmate who is accused of such heinous a crime to be released on bail merely because of pregnancy. The police said that 39 deliveries have taken place in Delhi prisons in the last 10 years. Jamia Coordination Committee member Zargar, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on April 10, had challenged in the high court the June 4 order of the trial court denying her bail in the case. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and scores injured. The report, filed through DCP of special cell, said statements of witnesses and co-accused clearly implicate Zargar as being a leading co-conspirator in commissioning of serious offence of causing large-scale disruption and riots, not only in Delhi but also in other parts of the country. "The present case pertains to grave offence against the society and nation. The investigation is at a very crucial juncture, and therefore, considering the sensitivity and the broad nefarious conspectus of present case, it would not be in the interest of justice as well as in public interest to grant bail to the accused at the present stage," it said. The report said the motive and the idea behind this conspiracy was 'to go to any extent possible', be it a small scuffle with the police during blockage or instigation of riots between two communities or to advocate and "execute a secessionist movement in the country by propagating an armed rebellion against the lawfully constituted government of the day". It was decided that the "anti-government feeling of Muslims" will be used at an appropriate time to destabilise the government, the police claimed. The protests were carried out during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India "to attract international media attention to propogate a narrative that the Government of the day was anti-muslim", the report said. (With PTI Inputs) HAMILTONThey blocked traffic on Main Street, danced in a downpour and chanted that Black lives matter. Six hours later, close to 100 students, former students and supporters erupted in cheers downtown after listening to the school board vote to end a controversial police liaison program in Hamilton public schools. We made history, shouted a dancing Greg Dongen, a member of a coalition of Black and racialized residents calling for police to be defunded and in this case, for cops to be pulled out of local schools. The protest started Monday before 5 p.m. with a march down Main Street East that quickly took over the intersection of Main and Bay Street, forcing police to divert car traffic. Protest participants then staged a sit-in on Main Street near city hall as they awaited a debate on whether to end a contentious police liaison program in schools that some Black students have said makes them feel fearful or unfairly targeted. Dozens of demonstrators danced in a heavy downpour Monday evening before settling in to listen to most of a six-hour meeting over a set of loudspeakers. We want a full termination of this program, said coalition member and student Gachi Issa. Our voices, our stories, our experiences should be taken into account. The program sends 11 officers into close to 200 high school and elementary schools across the public board. The board had previously voted to review the program, but decided Monday to terminate and review issues with the 25-year partnership with an eye to developing unspecified alternatives. The end of the proactive program does not mean police will stop going into schools for legislatively mandated functions like training for emergencies, noted Sharon Stephanian, superintendent of equity and well-being. But the vote means proactive policing efforts inside schools, including presentations on drugs and sexting, ceremonial activities and outreach and mediation efforts will stop at least for now. Some board members expressed hope a different partnership with police could be explored in future, while others opposed the termination. But trustee Cam Galindo who earned a cheer by voting to end the program by phone while standing at the downtown protest said the school board has more than two decades to fix the program. Enough is enough, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putins comments about the legitimacy of Russias borders in a documentary broadcast on Russian television have rattled some U.S. allies, fearful that he might be laying the groundwork for a further military incursion into Ukraine. In the documentary Russia. Kremlin. Putin., which aired on June 21, the Russian president alleged that some former Soviet republics took some of Russias traditionally historic territories when the USSR collapsed in 1991, some of them with unspecified gifts from Moscow. The following day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, No, Russia does not have territorial claims against its neighbors, but some U.S. and European officials said they are nevertheless concerned Putin might make another aggressive move in an attempt to distract attention from his poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the blow low oil prices have dealt to Russias economy. Other recent moves by Putin have compounded these fears, the officials say, including Putins decision to hold a major military parade in Moscow on June 24 despite Russia having the third most COVID-19 cases in the world. On June 22, the Russian leader also appeared with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a supporter of Russias incursions into Ukraine, at the Russian Armed Forces cathedral outside Moscow on the 79th anniversary of Nazi Germanys invasion of the Soviet Union. Related Video: Russian President Declares Emergency Following Oil Spill One European official called Putins renewed defense of Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea he called it a democratic choice of the peninsulas population in the film an argument widely rejected elsewhere in Europe and especially troubling. In the documentary, Putin said, Crimea has always been ours. Even from the judicial point-of-view. The immediate focus of concern now, officials on both sides of the Atlantic said, is the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops and Ukrainian forces backed by NATO are locked in an uneasy ceasefire. On June 12, following a video conference between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and European Union officials, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus described what she called joint U.S. and EU resolve to uphold Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and our insistence that Russia cease its aggressive actions in the Donbas region. Story continues We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, a State Department spokesman later told Time. Crimea is part of Ukraine. We continue to engage with officials from Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, and other interested partners and allies to support Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. But backing Ukraine is one of the few things that the transatlantic allies can agree on these days, as the long-time U.S.-EU alliance has weakened under the Trump Administrations American First foreign policy. Two European officials says they fear Putin could seek to exploit the growing tensions between the U.S. and its NATO allies by making another move on territory in Ukraine or elsewhere that had been part of the Soviet Union. Putin can smell weakness, said one of the officials, who both requested anonymity. The Atlantic alliance is fraying, President Trump is pulling American troops out of Germany because he says the Germans arent meeting their defense spending commitments, and Putin has troubles at home. That could add up to trouble. Some U.S. officials think Trumps re-election difficulties, however, might have the reverse effect, and stay Putins hand. Putin knows hes better off with four more years of a Trump presidency, and making another move, especially in Ukraine, would spell more trouble, especially since Ukraine is already a campaign issue, a U.S. intelligence official said. Before the release of the ongoing tvN drama "It's Okay To Not Be Okay," a press conference for the series was held in South Korea, wherein the cast members Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se, and Park Kyu Young were present. The drama's director Park Shin Woo was also there. "It's Okay To Not Be Okay" is based on Moon Kang Tae, who works at a psychiatric ward and Go Moon Young, an introvert with an antisocial personality disorder. She is also a famous writer of children's books. Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun), in a psychiatric ward, jots down the patients' conditions to be able to face and deal with some unexpected events. For example, if the patients fight or if they run away from the ward. He only earns about KRW 1.8 million (USD 1,600) a month. On the other hand, Go Moon Young (Seo Ye Ji) well-known children's book writer with an extremely selfish, arrogant, and rude personality. Eventually, they meet and change each other's lives. All the fans are looking forward to the sizzling chemistry between these two leads of the drama. All those released trailers and teasers are all so promising to give us a rebellious, spooky love story that instantly intrigued viewers. During the press conference, Kim Soo Hyun was asked about his experience working with Seo Ye Ji. He responded, saying that normally, they feel very comfortable working with each other. But when she's acting in front of the camera, it's like the character of Go Moon Young comes out instantly, and he gets goosebumps because of it. He was greatly motivated by her acting since she receives energy from her in that way. Seo Ye Ji agreed to Kim Soo Hyun's statement, adding that they are very comfortable working together, but when Kim Soo Hyun starts acting in front of the camera, he incredibly gets focused on his character. And it has made her think that he is "the actor Kim Soo Hyun,'' and he's a great help to her. "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" takes over tvN's Saturday and Sunday 21:00 time slot, which was formerly occupied by "When My Love Blooms" and will be followed by "Stranger Season 2" in August. The first script reading for tvN drama series "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" was held sometime during the first quarter of 2020. The drama premiered on June 20, 2020. Watch the teaser for Episode 3 below! 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. Police have arrested two Britons and an Irishman on suspicion of shooting a 'partner-in-crime' following a Costa del Sol drugs dispute. One of the men was arrested in Marbella, Malaga, after an armed raid in which police used a battering ram to smash down the doors of a luxury mansion. Footage showed them then pinning a bare-chested suspect thought to be the Irishman to the ground and taking him away in handcuffs after seizing the gun, bullets and silencer allegedly used in the shooting. The other suspects were held at separate addresses where they were also filmed being marched away by elite cops. Police have arrested two Britons and an Irishman on suspicion of shooting a 'partner-in-crime' following a Costa del Sol drugs dispute The Spanish police said the suspects and British victim are accused of belonging to the same drug trafficking organisation operating in the Costa del Sol. In May 2019, the 27-year-old British victim was admitted to hospital in Marbella with bullet wounds to both legs, according to a police statement. The Spanish police said that a 29-year-old Irishman accompanied the victim to hospital, claiming that he found him in the street already injured. The Irish suspect told the police where the incident took place, but investigators discovered that the shooting actually happened nearly four miles (six kilometres) away, according to reports. The shooting, on May 25, is said to have left the victim permanently disabled after he was also kneecapped in an alleged warning by members of his own British-led gang. The 27-year-old victim, who has not been named, is understood to have left Spain and flown back to the UK after being released from hospital. He did not co-operate with Spanish investigators and also told them he was the victim of a mugging. One of the men was arrested after a spectacular armed raid in which police used a battering ram to smash down the doors of a luxury mansion The weapon used to shoot him, a semi-automatic pistol, as well as a silencer and the blood-specked jersey of the suspect who fired the gun, were seized during police raids. The incident was investigated early by an elite police unit set up to combat organised crime. The unnamed Irishman took the British victim to A&E at Marbella's Costa del Sol Hospital in the early hours of May 25 in a high-end car believed to be a Mercedes. The shooting occurred a week after a new easing of coronavirus lockdown measures in the area which saw bar terraces re-opening for the first time in more than two months. Confirming the three arrests on Tuesday, a Spanish National Police spokesman said: 'National Police officers have arrested three people suspected of injuring a fourth man with several shots to his legs. Footage showed them then pinning a bare-chested suspect thought to be the Irishman to the ground and taking him away in handcuffs after seizing the gun, bullets and silencer used in the shooting The other suspects were held at separate addresses where they were also filmed being marched away by elite cops One of the suspects being led away 'One of the detainees pretended to have found him injured in the street and even took him to hospital, with the aim of diverting investigators' attention from those who were responsible for the crime. 'Police have found the pistol used to shoot him as well as a silencer and 140 cartridges. 'The shooting was a revenge drugs trafficking-related crime that occurred in Marbella. 'The investigation has shown that the alleged authors of the crime and the victim both belonged to the same drugs trafficking gang.' The shooting, on May 25, is said to have left the victim permanently disabled after he was also kneecapped in an alleged warning by members of his own British-led gang. Pictured: The raid was filmed by the cops Officers are understood to have tracked the vehicles used by the suspects, including the Mercedes the injured man was driven to hospital in, so they could work out what really occurred. The police spokesman said the shooting happened around four miles from the spot where the victim claimed to have been hurt. He added: 'Two of the detainees are British nationals aged 23 and 24 and the other is a 29-year-old Irishman. 'The Irishman is the person who accompanied the victim to hospital and pretended he was co-operating with investigators to deviate their attention from what had really happened and who was responsible. 'On more than one occasion he accompanied the police to the spot where he said the incident had happened, and he even pretended he was helping investigators look for traces of blood, knowing they would never find them there. Confirming the three arrests on Tuesday, a Spanish National Police spokesman said: 'National Police officers have arrested three people suspected of injuring a fourth man with several shots to his legs 'Presuming the investigators would never suspect the person who took the gunshot victim to hospital, it was agreed the weapon used in the crime would be hidden at his home.' All three men have been remanded in prison following a closed court hearing. The investigation is ongoing. The arrests for the shooting come after a string of violent crimes on the Costa del Sol. Hours after lockdown restrictions were eased in May, police arrested six Britons including a fugitive alleged drug dealer following a 'Wild West' bar fight in which another man was left with his 'guts hanging out' in a stabbing. The wanted man was later identified as Zathon Dale Williams, 28, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, who went on the run ahead of a no-show at Warwick Magistrates Court last September. And at the start of the June, a man was killed in a shocking broad-daylight shooting in Marbella. In the footage of the raid a pistol, silencer and bullets were found in a drawer underneath a bed Footage shot by a bystander showed the victim lying on his side on a zebra crossing near the beach in a residential street popular with wealthy expats and locals and holiday home owners. He was later identified as a Bosnian who had served time in jail for drugs offences. The day of the targeted assassination, police revealed more details about the suspects arrested recently over the murder of British businessman Peter Andrew Williamson in nearby Riviera del Sol in Mijas last November. One of the Brits was arrested at his home on an upmarket residential estate near Murcia, in south-east Spain, in May. In their first official comments since the detentions, police said the two men arrested had flown to Barcelona and hired a car before travelling to the Costa del Sol to target Mr Williamson. The Civil Guard added in a statement: 'The careful selection of the time and location to commit the murder shows their criminal experience, cold blood and dangerousness. 'One of the authors of the crime was arrested in the UK and sent to prison for previous crimes he had committed in Britain. 'He is the subject of a European Arrest Warrant so the Spanish courts can try him for the killing carried out here. 'The other detainee was moving around other European countries and South America for five months. 'He returned to Spain when the coronavirus-linked state of alarm was declared and settled in a small village in Murcia. 'He was arrested there at a house used to prepare the shipping of cannabis resin.' Investigators have linked Mr Williamson's murder to a deadly drugs war between rival gangs. New Delhi: This year has been a tough one for Bollywood, as it lost some of its best actors like Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and now the shocking death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The talented 34-year-old actor was found hanging at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. After sending his loved ones and fans in utter grief, SSR's followers have once again brought back the ghost of nepotism on social media platforms. SSR's death by suicide has sparked a debate on whether nepotism exits in Bollywood and how 'outsiders' or non-filmy background people have to struggler harder to make their place in the industry. The legendary late actor Irrfan Khan's son Babil has penned his thoughts on Sushant's sudden and untimely demise. He also urged fans to not make SSR's death a reason or an excuse but rather to fight for what is right. He wrote: Its still not settling in. Weve lost two very sincere people and sincerity is key in our spiritual journey, thus it comes as an unbelievable shock, the way Sushant has departed. Naturally, we have descended into pinning the blame on something or someone, which in itself is the most futile act because to find peace by playing the blame game is not honest peace, it is a fleeting reflection of a lie. I urge you to not blame someone or something for this incredibly unfortunate happening, I urge you to accept that life is filled with leg spin deliveries bouncing off spin with no apparent explanation or understanding provided, I urge you to stop investigating the reason because it only brings more despair to the people intimately suffering the loss. Instead we must celebrate the evolution of these sincere men and let their wisdom manifest in our own journeys in some way, hoping to keep little lanterns of their memories ignited in our sensitive souls. Im saying stand up for whats right without using Sushants demise as an excuse if you want to rebel against nepotism, do so, but dont use Sushant as a reason to why youre doing so now. Stand up for whats right regardless anyway in any case. (And it would and should be my fight to prove to the audience that I deserve a shot.) Irrfan's wife and Babil's mother Sutapa Sikdar too mourned SSR's demise and shared a long post on her Facebook page. Mumbai police is investigating Sushant's death and a few people including his close friends and family have been questioned so far. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 13:43 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660edd68 1 Art & Culture soekarno,ridwan-kamil,Dolorosa-Sinaga,Algeria,monument Free A monument to honor Indonesian founding father Sukarno is to be officiated in Algiers. The monument was designed by West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, who is also an architect, while a torso statue as the main attraction of the monument was created by Indonesian sculptor Dolorosa Sinaga. According to Ridwan, the idea to erect a monument in honor of Sukarno in the Algerian capital emerged during a dinner with an Algerian delegation in 2015, when Ridwan was the mayor of Bandung in West Java. At the dinner, an Algerian delegate gave a speech about how the North African country's history was greatly influenced by the Asia Africa Conference (KAA) of 1955, which had been hosted by Sukarno in Bandung. If you read the history of Algeria, [their founding fathers] went to Bandung for the KAA, [they got] inspired, returned [and then] voted for revolution, Ridwan told The Jakarta Post in an interview on Friday. During the course of five years, Ridwan and the Indonesian Embassy in Algiers corresponded with the Algerian government to complete the project. The monument was financed and constructed by Indonesian companies, namely state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina and state-owned contractor PT Wijaya Karya (Wika). For me, the monument is not only a feast for the eyes but also worth a visit. [It is a public space where] people can come and walk, read the Pancasila [ideology] from the first [principle] to the fifth and learn about Sukarno as the father of the Pancasila, Ridwan said. The monument is created in a crescent shape, which is the symbol of Algeria. There are also five pedestal columns in the monument, each symbolizing a principle of Pancasila. Ridwan, who is experienced in designing public spaces, such as the Rasuna Epicentrum in South Jakarta and the Marina Bay Waterfront Master Plan in Singapore, said that the Sukarno Monument was meant to facilitate city dwellers to interact with each other as well as providing an opportunity to learn something from the site. Ridwan said he had commissioned Dolorosa to create the torso statue to complete the monument as he had good faith in her artistry and philosophy. I met her once when I was a mayor. She is the perfect choice, he said. His admiration for Dolorosa began when she was involved in a project of giving art lessons to female inmates in a Bandung prison. I was touched by her patience, he said. Read also: Dolorosa Sinagas biography: A story of art and activism The Sukarno statue by Dolorosa for the monument in Algiers was designed in a contemporary style. It is composed of thousands of iron bars which are installed together to create Sukarno's famous gesture of raising his hand. The iron bars represent the many Indonesian citizens who worked together in unity, bounded by Sukarnos spirit. Dolorosa, whose resume is dominated by works narrating human rights and womens issues, said it was an honor for her to contribute to the project. I want to facilitate the audience in getting an artistic experience and understanding art expressions that can intellectually stimulate society, she told the Post. Besides being a medium of communication, art also has an educational aspect. Dolorosa said that, aside from Sukarno, she had only made three other statues of male figures, namely Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, poet Widji Thukul and former president Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). Dolorosa completed the statue in her studio in Jakarta and sent the work to be installed in Algiers. The monument will be officiated on July 18. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually without the presence of Ridwan and Dolorosa. (wng) Following a general amnesty issued by President Assad, a number of detainees have been released, some after years of imprisonment and some who were believed to be dead reports Sowt Al-Asima. Two days ago, Syrian regime authorities released a man from Deir Salman, a town in Eastern Ghouta, who was being held in the Saydnaya military prison, eight months after his family was told that he had been killed. A Sowt Al-Asima correspondent reported that the family of Hussein Abdelrahim received news from an official in Saydnaya prison eight months ago that he had been killed under torture. According to the correspondent, Hussein is the brother of Ahmad, who was released in early April, eight years after his arrest. He had been arrested in Damascus in 2012 after a verbal dispute with a personnel member at an Airforce Intelligence checkpoint. He was 13 years old at the time. After his arrest, he was transferred to Saydnaya prison and then Adra prison before being released. At the beginning of this month, authorities released a young man named Abdelqadir al-Sayyed Ahmad, from the city of al-Raheeba in eastern Qalamoun. He had been arrested in early 2018 while passing through the al-Harariya checkpoint coming from Jeirud. His detainment lasted around two years. He was transported during that time between a number of security branches, then to Saydnaya. Regime authorities also released a young man named Raed al-Hajj Hammoud, who had defected from the regime army and headed towards northern Syria in early 2017 in accordance with an agreement to remove rebel factions and those from the town of Zakia who refused resettlement with the regime. He then went to Turkey, where he remained for around a year before returning to Zakia in coordination with the towns reconciliation committee. He was released in early June after nearly two years of detention, most of which was spent in the custody of Military Security before his transfer to Saydnaya. Regime authorities early this month also released a young man named Firas al-Nikkar, who comes from the city of al-Nabak in western Qalamoun, after six years of detention. He spent those years in a number of security branches before being transferred to Saydnaya. Sowt Al-Asima has recorded the release of 19 Damascus Countryside detainees from Saydnaya and Adra prisons after years of detainment, since the release of the amnesty decree. President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree on Mar. 22, 2020, calling for a general amnesty for crimes committed before the decrees issue date, provided that they did not include cases related to the terrorism court. 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. Japanese Citizens Object to Xi Jinpings Visit to Japan Honest News Straight to Your Home. Try the Epoch Times yourself, and get a free gift. A planned state visit to Japan by Chinese communist party leader Xi Jinping seems to have been postponed indefinitely. But a number of Japanese citizens said in a recent television interview they see no need at all for Xis visit because recent incidents have exposed the Chinese Communist Partys true nature and lack of trustworthiness. ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) put forth a submission to the Ontario Government for their unregulated tobacco consultation. The submission put together a decade of information from various sources, including the Government of Ontario and Quebec, the RCMP, and multiple studies done on contraband tobacco in Canada. "We are proud to have put together this submission after years of encouraging the Ontario Government to take action. Ontario has the distinction of being the epicentre of the contraband tobacco problem in Canada, with one in three cigarettes sold in the province being illegal." began Ron Bell, Law Enforcement Advisor to the Coalition. The submission explored other models in provinces like Quebec, New Brunswick and Manitoba that have worked to combat contraband tobacco. For example, Quebec was able to halve their 33% rate of contraband tobacco in 2009 within two years. Illegal tobacco now only makes up roughly 12% in the province and the law enforcement community considers their model the gold standard. "For over a decade, we have been asking the Ontario Government to adopt the Quebec model, which for every one dollar spent, they see a return of over fourteen dollars. This is in stark contrast to Ontario, where their own report in 2018 showed that the province is losing over $750 million in provincial excise taxes. Those lost proceeds go directly to organized crime groups who are also involved in illegal cannabis, cocaine, heroin and human trafficking." continued Bell. The submission also explored the impacts of COVID-19 on the illicit trade. Recent busts in Ontario have shown that contraband tobacco continues to be smuggled across the province and into other provinces despite the pandemic. This is at a time when over 3 million Canadians have lost their jobs and unemployment has risen to over 13%. "The buying power of consumers in Ontario has been drastically impacted due to the economic downturn. As lockdown measures begin to ease, it is likely that we will see a dramatic increase in the contraband tobacco market. This is why the Ontario Government must take action now to combat this illicit trade that is fueling organized crime and taking millions away from the indebted public treasury." concluded Bell. About Us The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, law and order organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. Our members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat. Contacts Kyle Larkin NCACT Public Affairs Work: 905-449-9077 info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca SOURCE: National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594795/Submission-Highlights-the-Path-Forward-for-Ontario-Action-Against-Contraband-Tobacco As the Black Lives Matter protests have spread, statues of prominent figures have been defaced or brought down for their racist pasts. It is unfortunate that amidst this, some have also pointed fingers at M K Gandhi. Here, lawyer-historian Anil Nauriya charts the evolution of Gandhis attitude on the race question as well as his views on the African struggle for rights during the latter's stay in South Africa that spanned 21 years. It was in 1893 that M K Gandhi (1869-1948) went from India to Natal in South Africa as a young lawyer, not even 24 years of age. He was not yet 45 when he left in July 1914. Except for a few interludes, mainly in India and England, Gandhi's stay in South Africa spanned 21 years. The widening of Gandhis outlook on racial matters goes back to his South Africa years and was not merely a later occurrence as is sometimes erroneously assumed. The purpose of the struggle against racism is to get people to shed any ethnic or related prejudices they might have. Gandhi is an example of a person who not only shed his earlier ethnocentric ideas but went on to become an inspiration for African struggles and, as stated by the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons on his assassination in 1948, became during his lifetime "the bearer of the torch of liberty of oppressed peoples." As a subject of the British Empire, as the young Gandhi then saw himself, he sought non-discrimination by the European but resented the reduction in Indian rights whereby educated sections of Indians were clubbed with the raw native. But with increased interaction with Africans, Gandhi's concern for African causes became increasingly visible. Though Gandhis struggles in South Africa were organised around the Asian causes that more immediately affected Indians, his long-term vision for a non-racial South Africa was by now clear enough, as evidenced by his speech in May 1908, referred to below. By 1910, Gandhi took voluntarily to third class travel. One of the reasons for this, according to him was that he shuddered to read the account of the hardships faced by Africans in the third-class carriages in the Cape. I wanted to experience the same hardships myself, he wrote in a letter to M P Fancy, an associate in South Africa, on March 16, 1910. The practice of third-class travel that he would continue in India evidently had this African origin. For such Europeans, as were able to rise above colour prejudice, he usually had a word of praise. A remarkable change in Gandhi had thus come in South Africa itself. By May 1908, moving beyond expressing his concern merely over Indian issues, Gandhi rejected the policy of segregation and envisioned a South Africa in which the various races commingle. It is in this 1908 speech, made at the YMCA in Johannesburg on May 18, that Gandhi puts forth his vision for future South Africa: If we look into the future, is it not a heritage we have to leave to posterity, that all the different races commingle and produce a civilisation that perhaps the world has not yet seen? The first image features the YMCA building in Johannesburg where Gandhi gave his speech in 1908. The second image depicts a new building that has come up at the same spot. Source: Johannesburg Heritage Foundation A citizen of the British Empire Even as a young Indian Gandhi had a nationalist pride. Queen Victoria's proclamation of 1858 (made a year after the Great Indian Rising of 1857) had committed the British Crown: "We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our Indian territories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all our other subjects... It is our further will that, so far as may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified by their education, ability, and integrity, duly to discharge." To appreciate Gandhi's evolution in South Africa it is necessary to understand that he treated this Proclamation as a Magna Carta for India and Indians and for many years this Proclamation and the British Constitution were his points of reference. He expected to be treated in South Africa the same way as he was when he lived in England while studying law. When confronted with the harsh realities of racial discrimination in South Africa, he insisted on legal equality for Indians with Europeans. Laws in South Africa, however, tended repeatedly to deny the equality that Gandhi believed Indians were entitled to under the Proclamation and the British Constitution. Asserting citizenship of the Empire, he understood this also to carry obligations. This is what led him on two occasions to volunteer nursing and paramedical service to the British side in the South African War of 1900 and the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906. Although Gandhi participated in the latter, he ended up nursing the Zulu victims and also came to see the justice of the African cause. Positive attitude on expansion of African rights Racists seek to restrict the rights of other communities or peoples. Gandhi even in his South African years had a positive attitude on the expansion of African rights. As I have shown in my work, The African Element in Gandhi (2006), Gandhi welcomed African franchise rights as early as in 1894. Gandhi and his paper, the Indian Opinion, extolled outstanding African achievements. Gandhi supported and welcomed industrial training and general educational efforts among the Africans. While in South Africa, Gandhi reached out to African leaders like John Langalibalele Dube (1871-1946) who was later to be the first president-general of the African National Congress. Dube who, like Gandhi, admired the African American educationist, Booker T Washington, ran an industrial school, the Ohlange Institute, in Inanda near Phoenix. Gandhi set up his Phoenix Settlement close to the Ohlange Institute. "There was frequent social contact between the inmates of the Phoenix settlement and the Ohlange Institute," writes E S Reddy in Gandhiji's Vision of a Free South Africa (1995). Reddy writes that John Dube's paper, Ilange lase Natal, an African weekly in English and Zulu, used to be printed in the Indian Opinion press until the Ohlange Institute acquired a press of its own. Gandhi commended Dube's work as he did that of the leading African editor John Tengo Jabavu to set up a college for Africans. Members of Gandhi's Phoenix Settlement in South Africa. Source: Wikimedia Commons As early as in 1905, Gandhi had supported Africans rights in land. He and his journal welcomed the Transvaal Supreme Court judgement in the case of Edward Tsewu (b. 1866), another future founder of the African National Congress, upholding the Africans right to hold land. Gandhis paper severely condemned the Natives Land Act, 1913, as an Act of confiscation and supported John Dubes criticism of the Act. Gandhis notions on race benefited from his intellectual exposure to influences such as those of Olive Schreiner and Jean Finot. Soon after Gandhi's release from prison in 1908, an article by the writer Olive Schreiner in 1908 in The Transvaal Leader arguing against racial prejudice and envisaging a non-racist South Africa, was reprinted with some editorial appreciation in Gandhis journal. Gandhi would repeatedly refer to her lack of racial prejudice and made a specific reference to it at the session of the Indian National Congress in Kanpur in 1925. She was clearly one of the vital influences that entered into the transformation and broadening of outlook that Gandhi experienced in South Africa on the question of race, particularly from mid-1908. Similarly, Jean Finots work, Race Prejudice, is another formative but unjustly neglected influence on Gandhi from this period. Gandhi referred to Finots work a few months before the Universal Races Congress was held in 1911. The Polish-born Finot had become a French citizen in 1897. In France, he founded and edited La Revue des Revues which brought him into contact with writers like Tolstoy. Finots work against race prejudice, Les Prejuge des Races, was published in Paris in 1905. The English language translation appeared the following year. It is this work which was noticed and commended in Indian Opinion in September 1907. Gandhis criticism of the South African Constitution of 1909-1910 was also based on his vision of non-racial nationhood. Gandhi had vital insights into the emerging South African nation and stressed the need for a non-racial conception of it. Gandhi criticises the 1909-10 Constitution for its racist content. In 1910, Gandhi criticised the racially-based constitutional set-up in South Africa under which an African leader like Walter Rubusana, a future founder of the ANC, was not considered entitled to contest for Parliament although he could be a member of the Provincial Legislature in the Cape. Earlier, in 1904, Gandhi had endorsed Rubusanas interrogation of Sir Gordon Sprigg in East London and Rubusanas criticism of discriminatory pavement regulations in that Eastern Cape city. Supporting political organisations among Africans Gandhi supported the growth of political organisations among Africans. Gandhis paper, Indian Opinion, welcomed the establishment in January 1912 of the African National Congress (then named the South African Native National Congress) as an awakening. Six months before the ANC was formed, Gandhis paper carried a report about the likely formation of such an organisation. The report cited Pixley Seme (1881-1951), who would reputedly be the main driving force behind the establishment of the organisation, and would later become its fifth President-General. John Langalibalele Dube Source: Wikimedia Commons John Dube, the African leader from Natal and Gandhis neighbour in Inanda, near Durban, was chosen to be the first President-General of the African National Congress; Walter Rubusana became Vice-President. Gandhis paper welcomed the choice of John Dube, our friend and neighbour and published in detail the manifesto issued by Dube. At least seven years earlier, in 1905, Gandhi had met John Dube and heard him speak. He had then praised John Dube and wrote in favour of African land rights. In the following year in 1906, Gandhis paper praised a manifesto issued by John Dube against colonial policies that displayed unfairness towards Africans. When Gopal Krishna Gokhale visited South Africa at Gandhi's invitation, Gandhi took him to meet John Dube on November 11, 1912, at the Ohlange Institute near Phoenix and discuss matters of politics. The historic significance of the meeting is immense. John Dube had been chosen as the first President of the African National Congress at the beginning of the year. Gokhale had been President of the Indian National Congress in 1905. After his return to India, Gandhi too would be President of the Indian National Congress in 1924. Dubes paper, Ilanga lase Natal, reported that Gokhale, accompanied by Gandhi and others was received by our boys and girls who greeted him with cheers and gave him an exhibition of band and vocal music. The same issue, dated November 15, 1912, carried an editorial on Gokhales visit to South Africa. It observed: The reception and attention that are being given by the Government and people of South Africa to the Hon. G. K. Gokhale, and the hearing he has received on all sides when he has touched upon the unsatisfactory relations existing between the European and Indian population of the Union, convey a lesson of importance to the Native population. We have seen and heard a great man whose knowledge and experience is equal to that of the foremost statesmen of our day, and he is a black man.We Natives of South Africa have not been given the opportunity of taking part in the affairs of our fatherland, and consequently cannot boast of such leaders as are Messrs Gokhale and Gandhi. The Natives have taken the most important step in establishing a representative Congress of their own. They should perfect that organisation and support their Congress and men they have chosen to office by every means in their power. Let them speak as those having authority, and the claims of the Natives to attention will at least always have a hearing. Gandhi enjoyed the trust of leading figures in the African National Congress. Selby Msimang consulted Gandhi on legal matters in the absence of Pixley Seme with whom Msimang was associated. Pixley Seme himself had called on Gandhi at Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg in 1911. An account of this has become available from the memoirs of Pauline Podlashuk, a future medical doctor who was active in the suffragette movement in South Africa as secretary of the Womens Enfranchisement League. Gandhis paper welcomed the African womens anti-pass struggle in the Orange Free State, South Africa in 1913 with a full front-page article on August 2 emblazoned with the banner heading, Native Women's Brave Stand" in capital letters. In the 1906 Rising, Gandhi had wanted to do what he saw as his duty by the settlers. By 1913 his sympathies had moved to the Africans so long as the struggle was non-violent. One reason for some misunderstanding of Gandhi's position has been his anxiety that struggles ought to be nonviolent and his reluctance to endorse an amalgamated struggle involving all communities until he had satisfied himself that this condition would be met. Reception of Gopal Krishna Gokhale in South Africa. Source: Wikimedia Commons Seeing the justice of the African cause Racial prejudice would be seen in the fact that Gandhi and other Indians who were imprisoned in the passive resistance campaign resented being classed with Africans, especially those convicted for criminal offences. Various reasons contributed to this and while some of these were of a racial nature, Gandhi was particularly irked by the fact that "...this thoughtless classification has resulted in the Indians being partly starved...." (Indian Opinion, March 7, 1908, in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 8, p.120) Yet even this resentment was mixed with some introspection by Gandhi: "It was however as well that we were classed with the Natives. It was a welcome opportunity to study the treatment meted out to Natives, their conditions [of life in gaol] and their habits. Looked at from another point of view, it did not seem right to feel bad about being bracketed with them." (Indian Opinion, March 7, 1908, in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 8, p.135) In an interview given to D A Rees after his release from prison, Gandhi remarked: "Asiatic prisoners are classed with Natives. I do not object to this, but I claim that they should be supplied with food according to their customs." Gandhi also spoke out on public health issues in favour of the African people. He criticised racist policies on public health which had meant death and destruction to the Native people of this country. Gandhi spoke out against segregation even in the context of a smallpox outbreak. He supported African civic rights and critiqued the jury system for its bias against Africans. Although Gandhi offered his nursing and paramedical services to the British in the 1906 Rebellion, he came to see the justice of the African cause. It is on seeing this that Gandhi commended passive resistance as a method to the African people. The methods of struggle envisaged by Gandhi were becoming more intensive and defiant. He had reached the end of the petitioning road. In a note Gandhi sent in Gujarati, for his journal of August 28, 1909, he wrote: I see the time drawing nearer everyday when no one, whether black or white, will succeed in obtaining a hearing by merely making petitions. If I am right, then no force in the world can compare with soul force, that is to say, satyagraha. I, therefore, wish that Indians should fill the gaols if, by the time this letter is published, there has been no decision or solution. He recommends passive resistance to Africans in June 1909 and to the Coloured People. In line with this, he also supported the protest made by the Coloured community at the time of the Prince of Wales visit to Cape Town in 1910. Arriving at the interconnectedness of struggles Gandhi had resented the use of the term "coolie" for Indians, particularly the educated sections. He had, however, regrettably himself used the term "kaffir", then current in South Africa, for the Africans. Gandhis own vocabulary improved with time in South Africa itself and not merely upon leaving it. Despite kaffir being an expression that had to some extent entered South African usage, Gandhi discarded using it for the Africans before he left South Africa. Gandhi in South Africa gradually grew out of the tendency to use the word kaffir, taking its usage towards the end of his stay there (1913-14) to a vanishing point. Kaffir was essentially an Arabic term for non-believers. The term, having acquired a special meaning in South Africa as a dismissive synonym for the Africans, had also entered South African laws of the time. Some of the Christian missions of the time also adopted it. The term was also adopted to connote African language(s) and Lovedale Press published a "Kaffir-English Dictionary" at least as late as in 1915. Many Africans used the term themselves. John Knox Bokwe, wrote a "Kaffir Wedding Song" the second edition of which was published in 1894, a year after Gandhi's arrival in South Africa. In the United States, Negro has now been discarded as an expression, but so many African American writers in the early years had used it themselves even in titles of books they wrote. Gandhi understood the interconnectedness of struggles for freedom. In July 1926 Gandhi emphasised a vital axiom about the struggle against racial discrimination which set limits to how far Indian demands could be expected to be met in South Africa without a forward movement in that country as a whole: I do not conceive the possibility of justice being done to Indians if none is rendered to natives of the soil. (Young India, July 22, 1926, in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 31, p. 182) The statue of the young Gandhi in Johannesburg. Source: Wikimedia Commons The same thought recurs here: Indians have too much in common with the Africans to think of isolating themselves from them. They cannot exist in South Africa for any length of time without the active sympathy and friendship of the Africans. (Gandhi in Young India, April 5, 1928, in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 36, p. 190). Extending the methods he had adopted in India, in 1926 Gandhi commended worldwide nonviolent non-co-operation against exploitation. Following the economic boycott of foreign cloth that Gandhi had encouraged and sponsored in India, he had been recommending the same course to other Asians and to Africans. He had declared in 1926: There is however no hope of avoiding the catastrophe (of increased racial bitterness) unless the spirit of exploitation that at present dominates the nations of the West is transmuted into that of real helpful service, or unless the Asiatic and African races understand that they cannot be exploited without their co-operation, to a large extent voluntary, and thus understanding, withdraw such co-operation. (Young India, March 18, 1926, in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 30, pp. 135-136) Support to other African leaders In addition, Gandhi offered his encouragement to African leaders in other parts of Africa, such as Kenya. As early as in 1924 Gandhi had commented on the case of the African leader Harry Thuku, an early organiser of Kenya's African workers. Thuku, who had protested against the flogging to death of some of his countrymen and against forced labour by African unmarried girls on plantations of white settlers, was detained without trial and deported. Gandhi described Thuku as the victim of lust for power and wrote that if Thuku ever saw these lines, he will perhaps find comfort in the thought that even in distant India many will read the story of his deportation and trials with sympathy. During his visit to England in 1931, Gandhi had a meeting with Jomo Kenyatta, the future leader of Kenya. Jeremy Murray-Brown, Kenyatta's biographer, writes about the meeting: "Kenyatta met the Indian leader in November 1931, and Gandhi then inscribed Kenyattas diary with the words: 'Truth and nonviolence can deliver any nation from bondage'." As early as in 1931, Gandhi extended support for the independence of the Gold Coast (the later Ghana). With Gandhi already committed to Indian independence, and to full Egyptian independence, his commitment to all of Africa could be no less. While visiting London, Gandhi was asked, on 31 October 1931, a question about the country that the world would later know as Ghana: For some years Britain would continue certain subject territories like Gold Coast. Would Mr. Gandhi object? Gandhi replied: I would certainly object. When recently the authorities in Ghana decided, under pressure from a university faculty swayed by some recent writings, to remove Gandhi's statue from the campus in Legon, they in fact removed one of the earliest supporters of Ghana's independence. From Mohandas to Mahatma In a deeper and more complex way than most, Gandhi understood, as we have seen, the interconnectedness of struggles. Interestingly, so indeed did many of the protagonists who would in the first instance be affected by his struggles, such as the European settlers in Africa. As in Kenya in later years, so in South Africa, there was a general apprehension voiced by the European Press during Gandhi's African years that whatever was conceded to the relatively minuscule community of Indians would sooner or later have to be conceded to the Africans. Hence the stout resistance to conceding Indian civil and political rights. The Indian struggle was apparently a struggle only on behalf of Indians. Yet it was far wider in its consequences. This was noted for example by the APO, the journal of the Colored people of South Africa, (organised under the banner of the African Peoples Organisation) on Gandhis departure from South Africa. Much of the evolution in Gandhi's ideas took place while he was yet in South Africa. This is what Nelson Mandela seemed to refer to when he said in effect: You gave us Mohandas Gandhi, we returned him to you as Mahatma Gandhi" (Anil Nauriya studied economics and is counsel at the Supreme Court of India. He has been writing since the 1970s and has focused frequently on secularism and the state and on struggles for freedom. His writings in the last two decades include The African Element in Gandhi (2006)) A furious homeowner on the New South Wales and Queensland border has scrawled a protest message against coronavirus lockdowns on the side of their house. A video posted to Instagram on Tuesday shows the graffiti reading 'Berlin Wall' with three arrows pointing to a street sign further down the road advising the state border remains closed. The message references the infamously guarded wall constructed after World War II that divided the German capital into East Berlin and West Berlin. 'Fair bit going on in Tweed / East Berlin,' the caption to the video reads, comparing the house location in Tweed Heads, New South Wales to the communist part of the city. A homeowner near the QLD and NSW border has likened the state's COVID-19 border closures to Cold War era Berlin The Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961 and separated socialist East Germany from the capitalist west during the Cold War. The heavily guarded wall was torn down in 1989 during the collapse of the U.S.S.R and communist Eastern Bloc of Europe. The post has been liked by almost 6,000 people since being posted on Tuesday morning with some seeing the amusing side to the message. 'The Aussie Berlin Wall.' one person agreed. 'Hahaha go Coolangatta,' another person wrote, referring to the corresponding town on the QLD side of the border. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in March that Queensland would enforce strict closures of it's borders to slow the spread of COVID-19. Police were posted at border checkpoints and stopped thousands of cars trying to enter the state. The protest graffiti scrawled on the house in Tweed Heads near the NSW and QLD border Police stopping cars trying to cross the NSW border into Queensland in March 2020 Queensland police officers are seen operating a vehicle checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland-New South Wales border, Friday, May 22, 2020 Two challenges against the government's constitutional right to keep the borders shut are being heard in the High Court, one being backed by billionaire businessman and former politician Clive Palmer. On Monday, Ms Palaszczuk did not rule out opening Queensland's borders to select states, despite a potential second COVID-19 wave in Victoria. She said her government will not make any formal decision about whether this is feasible until after national cabinet meets on Friday. Queensland had flagged the second week of July as a possible border reopening date, pending a review of restrictions by the Chief Health Officer. But escalating community transmission in Melbourne has cast a shadow over that estimate. 'There is a lot of active community transmission happening in Victoria,' Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Monday. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) cracked down on non-essential travel by closing down national parks and tightening border controls amid the coronavirus pandemic A COVID-19 coronavirus sign at a Pacific Highway vehicle checkpoint on the Queensland-New South Wales state border near Coolangatta 'There were some 40 new cases over the weekend (and) they have 108 active cases. Everyone is concerned.' Ms Palazczuk said reopening to select states does not have the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but is being considered by South Australia. 'The prime minister has said that he does not want to have certain states open to certain states, so I think that will have to be a very considered conversation at national cabinet,' she said. People from East Germany greet citizens of West Germany at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on December 22, 1989 Tourists take pictures alongside the Berlin Wall in modern day Germany The spike in cases in Melbourne prompted Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young to include all 31 local government areas in Greater Melbourne as well as bordering areas of Murrindindi, Mitchell, Moorabool, Macedon Ranges and Greater Geelong as hotspots. Victorians can expect to spend two weeks in confinement if they do step foot in Queensland. However, opening up stadiums has been much easier for Queensland's Labor government, with major sporting venues allowed to have 25 per cent capacity, up to 10,000 spectators, from next weekend. The relaxation of those restrictions comes as the state recorded a streak of zero new cases and has avoided the outbreak predicted to follow a Black Lives Matter rally two weeks ago which drew some 30,000 protesters. As of Tuesday, school students, workers and freight drivers can enter the state without an issue, but Queensland remains closed to anyone else. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2020) - SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSX: SIL) (NYSE American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a corporate update with respect to the Las Chispas Project ("Las Chispas") in Sonora, Mexico, and management changes. N. Eric Fier, CEO, commented, "We continue to adjust to unprecedented COVID-19 conditions with the operation of a fully functional confined camp at Las Chispas. Health and safety of our people and surrounding communities are paramount as we move the project forward. The SilverCrest Team is back to operating eight exploration drills, advancing underground development at 10 to 15 metres per day, and working diligently on feasibility and engineering designs in preparation for potential major mine construction in 2021. As of June 15, 2020, Mr. Nick Campbell, Executive V.P. of Business Development and Dr. Salvador Aguayo, V.P. of Mexico Development, have stepped down from their respective company roles. Nick has been an integral part of the SilverCrest success story and will be missed. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Salvador will be retiring after 40 years in the industry. He joined the predecessor company in 2007 and assisted with the success story, from discovery through production, of the Santa Elena Mine located 25 kilometres south of Las Chispas. He brought the same skills and excitement to Las Chispas. Dr. Aguayo will continue with the Company as consultant and advisor." Las Chispas Updates As of mid-June, the Company had constructed a fully confined camp at Las Chispas with a capacity for 160 essential persons to continue its exploration, underground development and construction of early works. Before entering the confined camp, all persons are tested for COVID-19 (rRT-PCR test) and following receipt of negative tests, are transported to site using strict health and safety protocols. Once on site, all appropriate COVID-19 related protocols (see news release dated March 30, 2020) are enforced. Currently eight (8) exploration drills are operating. The Company took advantage of the slow down (due to COVID-19) to further in-fill drill on the Babi Vista Vein for resource estimation and feasibility work. Target drilling of an estimated 70,000 metres is planned in H2 focusing on high-grade resource expansion of the following veins: Babicanora (southeast and northwest, deep), Babi Sur (southeast to depth), Babi Vista (all directions), Babicanora Norte (southeast and northwest, deep), Las Chispas (southeast to depth), Giovanni (southeast to depth), William Tell (all directions), and Varela (all directions). Underground development has resumed, with a target of 500 metres per month by Q3, 2020, under confined camp conditions. The first ventilation raise in the Babicanora area has been completed. The feasibility study is progressing in parallel with the exploration and development efforts: Basic engineering was completed in May 2020; Procurement of long lead equipment items are expected to start in H2, 2020; Detailed engineering was initiated in June 2020 and will carry on to Q1, 2021; and Feasibility study currently expected near the end of this year. Communications with local communities and government continue to be paramount as we adjust our efforts to provide assistance with medical needs due to COVID-19. The use of a confined site camp is limiting physical exposure to the community. ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC. SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. The Las Chispas Project consists of 28 mineral concessions, of which the Company has 100% ownership and where all the known mineral resources of the Company are located. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Property resulting in numerous high-grade precious metal discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including preparing a feasibility study; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; and the possibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the reliability of mineralization and metallurgical test estimates, the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to underground development and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: uncertainty as to the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng Chief Executive Officer SilverCrest Metals Inc. For Further Information: SilverCrest Metals Inc. Contact: Jacy Zerb, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730 Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA) Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58394 London, June 23 : Markus Braun, the former CEO of scandal-hit digital payments firm Wirecard, has been arrested after the company confirmed that the missing $2.1 billion did not exist, German Police told the media on Tuesday. Munich prosecutors confirmed that Braun was arrested on suspicion of having inflated the digital payment company's balance sheet and sales through fake transactions, reports CNN. He did this in order to make the company more attractive to investors and customers. Braun was likely to be released from custody on a bail of $5.7 million, according to the prosecutors. Earlier, Germany-based Wirecard said on Monday that 1.9 billion euros (nearly $2.1 billion) that were supposed to be in its accounts simply did not exist at all. "The Management Board of Wirecard assesses on the basis of further examination that there is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9 billion EUR do not exist," the company said in a statement. Braun resigned last Friday after global market consulting firm EY said the cash, which makes up roughly a quarter of the company's assets, could not be located. The central bank of Philippines said that none of the money appears to have entered the country's financial system. The central bank is also investigating the case. The German firm has withdrawn its financial results for 2019 and for the first quarter of 2020. Founded in 1999, Wirecard was once considered one of the most promising tech firms in Europe. It processes payments for consumers and businesses, and sells data analytics services. The company has nearly 6,000 employees in 26 countries around the world. Iran Confirms Arrival Of Ship Carrying 'Goods For Iranian Supermarket' In Caracas Radio Farda June 22, 2020 An Iranian ship carrying foodstuff has arrived in Venezuelan waters amid a shortage of basic goods and is nearing Puerto La Guaira, Iran's government news agency IRNA reported on Monday. This is the sixth ship Iran has sent to the U.S.-sanctioned, cash-strapped Latin American country in the past month. In recent weeks five Iranian oil tankers have delivered oil to Venezuelan refineries. According to Hojjatollah Soltani, the Iranian ambassador to Caracas, the foodstuff and other commodities delivered by Golsan are meant to fill the shelves of an Iranian supermarket in the Latin American country struggling particularly with food shortage. Venezuelan media on Monday reported that the goods from Golsan will supply an Iranian supermarket in Terrazas del Avila in Caracas. According to these reports the Iranian group that purchased Salva Foods and renamed it as Megasis is planning to open several supermarkets in the country. "In theory, they will come with everything," a source told Extra Venezuela. Under U.S. sanctions and deprived of foreign currency, Venezuela is not able to import food, medicine and other basic necessities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of Venezuelans have been forced to leave the country for its neighbors as a result of the humanitarian crisis the government of President Nicolas Maduro finding very difficult to overcome. On Saturday Soltani, told Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television that Golsan which left Iran's Shahid Rajaee port on May 17 was carrying foodstuff to Iran's sanctioned Latin American ally. In the past month, five Iranian tankers have carried over 1.5 million barrels of oil to Venezuelan refineries. Many Iranian social media users have reacted angrily to the news of the food delivery to Venezuela, saying the government is spending its money in other countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and Venezuela while people at home suffer from poverty. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-confirms- arrival-of-ship-carrying-goods-for-iranian -supermarket-in-caracas/30684720.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 Your browser does not support the audio element. The recent blocking of a popular website for streaming pirated movies in Vietnam has caught public attention and represents a rare big move by Vietnamese authorities who have found the issue of online film copyright infringement difficult to control. A local Internet service provider (ISP)'s representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper it had blocked access to the sites domain name 'phimmoi.net' from June 18 under new guidelines. The representative acknowledged this was only a stopgap measure as it has always been a hard job for them to deal with websites streaming pirated films. This opinion is quite easy to understand, especially considering the way the 'phimmoi.net' popped back up nearly immediately after the blockade. The website was 'revived' just one day after being blocked under a new domain name. A positive signal While some consider blocking the DNS as a Band-Aid solution and ultimately futile, many other industry experts disagree. "It's quite a leap for the authorities to block the domain name, said Phan Thanh Gian, the chief executive officer of ClipTV, a platform offering television services online. "This measure, of course, can't shut down the website completely, but it makes a very clear impact on the current situation. "Using a new domain name means it would take a while for the audiences to get used to it again. In addition to that, the infringer would suffer the loss of traffic as well as revenue." Gian added there is no perfect solution to this problem but he hopes there will be effective cooperation between the authorities and advertising agencies in the campaign against copyright infringement. Websites streaming pirated films often use a content delivery network (CDN) system to provide films on the Internet, according to Gian. They can pay for their own CDN or take advantage of the policy of giant platforms with their own CDN servers such as Facebook and Google to upload the illegal content. Websites like phimmoi.net create a Facebook account then upload pirated films to the account, setting the videos visible only to the account holder to avoid being accused of copyright infringement. For the next step, they use tools to connect the account to their pirated websites providing film streaming services to the end-users. In this way, they can not only circumvent the authorities but also avoid paying extra costs associated with hosting the movies on their own servers. These illegal websites revenue comes from ad placement. The less they have to pay for hosting, the more profit they can collect. In fact, phimmoi.net is not the only website streaming pirated motion pictures in Vietnam. Many similar websites exist to meet the huge demand from local audiences wanting to watch films for free. Infringers employ various tactics to duck law enforcement, including hiding their identities using foreign servers or domain names, and opening overseas bank accounts to receive ad revenues. Many other experts consider phimmoi.nets domain name being blocked as 'a positive signal' to the over-the-top (OTT) market in Vietnam. OTT is a streaming media service offered directly to viewers via the Internet. Many entrepreneurs hesitate to invest in Vietnam's OTT market for fear of the huge potential risk because of the copyright infringement problem versus the small potential for revenue at the moment. The latest move is viewed as a good signal by some investors who intend to invest in the OTT market, in some ways helping to raise the Vietnamese public's awareness of copyright and copyright breach. An OTT set-top box is seen in this file photo. Photo: Ly Thanh / Tuoi Tre Controversial reactions After the website phimmoi.net's domain name was blocked on June 18, there were controversial reactions to the move. Thousands of comments expressing regret over what had happened to the website showed up on various social media outlets. Several netizens bemoaned that they were in the process of watching a new film series on the website and they don't know how to live without it." Some said it was normal to watch a pirated film for free. "Are there any legal websites that offer as many films as the illegal ones?" one person asked. There were also a huge number of people who expressed their excitement when phimmoi.net came back under another domain name on June 19; however, the development was not without its detractors. In critics' eyes, showing regret for the blocking of a pirated website is unacceptable and must be condemned. "If you benefit from watching a pirated website, you should at least know to be ashamed of it, instead of talking about it as if you were proud," Thanh Le, a media agency worker based in Ho Chi Minh City, told Tuoi Tre. "You should learn to get used to paying for what you choose to enjoy and what benefits you," he continued. Although not a high-income earner, Thanh said he still opts for paid services for watching films or listening to music online from providers running affordable services and allowing users to use a shared account. He currently pays over VND200,000 (US$8.60) every month for such services, which he says is worth the price. Kim Ngan, another citizen in Ho Chi Minh City, has another reason to frown upon pirated movie websites: they promote online gambling services. Phimmoi.net and other websites not only stream films illegally but they also promote online gambling services. This must be condemned, she said. Gambling is generally illegal in Vietnam except in authorized casinos serving foreigners. Online gambling advertisements appear on a Vietnamese website offering illegal film streaming service. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre In a discussion with Tuoi Tre, a representative from a big Vietnamese film distributor expressed concerns about the far-reaching and long-term consequences caused by the pirated movie websites for the film industry, especially in Vietnam. "The fact that imported films or film remakes haven't been released but their pirated versions are already streamed over the Internet is causing us a heavy loss," the representative said. "There were a few quality films that we would like to spend time promoting widely, but because of the fear for pirated films we had to release them quickly, which affected the quality of the movies' promotion campaign," the representative explained. Phimmoi.net ranked 14th on the list of Vietnam's most-visited websites in January, according to statistics from We Are Social, a London-based company. Its monthly traffic was 5.2 million visitors on average. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Vice President Leni Robredo has had enough of malicious claims besmirching her name and her office's COVID-19 efforts amid new allegations circulating on social media. She belied allegations that her office distributed spoiled meals to the frontliners of the Diliman Doctors Hospital in Quezon City. She also denied that her spokesperson attempted to silence the hospital staff. "My spokesperson, Atty Barry Gutierrez said he has never visited any hospital during the entire duration of the ECQ/GCQ nor ever called this particular hospital. Our team delivering hot meals donated by private individuals said they never received such complaints," she wrote on her personal Facebook page. The Vice President shared a screenshot of the netizen who first posted the claim on Facebook. She also noted how the social media post started off with "Confirm if possible," saying the netizen is trying to skirt criminal liability. She also posted the names of those who shared the questionable post. "If there was no malice, you should have checked first before posting. You should know that posting fake news makes you criminally liable. Let us report him plus all those who reposted. Take screenshots of everything, including those who reposted because we will go after all of them," she wrote. Robredo sought the public's help in sending reports and screenshots of fake news to her official Facebook page. The Vice President stressed, "We will no longer tolerate any of these." Her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, likewise, threatened fake news peddlers of cybercrime charges. "12 years na limit sa cyberlibel, kaya abangan lang nyo mga sinungaling kayo," he wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, the Diliman Doctors Hospital issued a statement dismissing the allegations. Our institution received food donation on 3 occasions from the Office of the Vice President, but none of which have been found to be spoiled, it said on its Facebook page. On the other hand, Atty. Gutierrez or any representative from the Vice President's Office never surfaced in our hospital to offer any monetary payoff. The hospital also disproved rumors that the Vice President herself showed up, and that the hospitals president refused to meet her. Robredo was the top victim of fake news in 2019, according to fact-checking group VERA Files. She has recently debunked several misinformed and malicious social media posts on her office's COVID-19 response. An economic advisor to Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a very chilling prediction about the country's economy claiming it won't fully recover from the coronavirus pandemic until at least 2024. Former Dow Chemical executive chairman Andrew Liveris based his forecast on the belief that the health crisis wouldn't reach a low point until 2023. His warning comes after the unemployment rate spiked to its highest level in nearly two decades at 7.1 per cent in May as a further 227,700 people lost their job. Mr Liveris, who has advised both the Trump and Obama administrations on manufacturing policy, told the Australian Financial Review recurrences in COVID-19 infection would continue until there are mass doses of vaccine available. Former Dow Chemical executive chairman Andrew Liveris (pictured) has warned Australia will not recover from the coronavirus pandemic until at least 2024 In an op-ed for the publication, Mr Liveris said the world is in a 'crisis' due to the greatest health threat since the Spanish Flu, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and the biggest social disruption to rock the US since the 1960s. The series of events are all 'connected' and 'amplifying' each other as governments attempt to reopen their economies and as Black Lives Matter protests take to the streets. Mr Liveris said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we work, accelerated the reliance on digital interactions and commerce and put travel on hold. May's monthly drop in the number of people employed is the second largest on record, after nearly 600,000 were sacked in April, figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. Treasury expects the unemployment rate could hit eight per cent by September. Market economists think it could go even higher, particularly as support measures during the crisis, like the JobKeeper wage subsidy, are wound back. Mr Liveris believes governments will need to invest in infrastructure to address social inequalities. 'I think capitalism and democracy are going to have a sort of divorce after what has been a very market-defined marriage,' he wrote. 'They [governments] must underwrite strong, accessible health and education systems. They must act to manage outcomes for the wider community, to give citizens a fair share of what can be a highly prosperous period.' Pictured: A restaurant in Newtown, Sydney, displays a closed sign due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions Mr Liveris wrote that he has been encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic as community members have been able to unite through the health crisis. The special advisor to the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission also told the publication he is concerned about debt levels as governments desperately try to pull themselves out of coronavirus lockdown and reopen their economies. He said monetary policy had been the drug of choice for Western economies since the 1980s. 'As we pile up more and more debt, it's not yet clear where the new growth and where the financing of that growth is going to come from,' Mr Liveris said. Pictured: People line up outside a Centrelink office in Adelaide during the coronavirus pandemic The governor of the Reserve Bank says he's confident about the Australian economy bouncing back but says policy reform by government will be a key factor. Governor Philip Lowe says the economy is benefiting from the way the government has responded to the pandemic, and the outlook has improved. The COVID-19 pandemic has been much milder in Australia with only 102 people dying from the disease, compared to thousands, or tens of thousands in some other countries. This has allowed state governments to lift many restrictions after three months, helping the economy to get back on track. 'Three or four months ago I thought hours worked in Australia could fall close to 20 per cent, I think the number now is more like 10 per cent, so it's not nearly as bad as anticipated,' Dr Lowe told the ANU Leadership forum in Canberra. He said there will be a shadow over the economy that might last for years, with consumer confidence and business confidence slow to return unless regulation reforms are undertaken. Thiruvananthapuram, June 23 : One of the biggest blockbusters of the late 1980s that had then taken the Malayalam film industry by storm, is again after three decades set to stir the Kerala film industry. The 1921 Malabar rebellion is back on the story board for four films. Kerala's legendary filmmaker I.V.Sasi in 1988 came out with the film 1921 -- billed as the most expensive film in Malayalam then and a smashing hit . With the Corona pandemic slowly ebbing away, the announcement came from upcoming superstar Prithviraj in a Facebook of his latest project. The topic is set to trend. Unlike in the film "1921", the central theme for all the new four films announced is Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji, who played second fiddle to the main actor in Sasi's film. Haji is known for raising 75,000 natives, seizing control of large territory from the British rule and setting up a parallel government in open defiance of the British rulers in North Kerala villages Eranadu and Valluvanadu taluks. Prithviraj wrote: "He (Haji) Astood up against an empire that ruled a quarter of the world. Etched out his own country with an army that waged a never before war against the British. Though history was burned and buried, the legend lived on! "The legend of a leader, a soldier, a patriot. A film on the man who became the face of the 1921 Malabar revolution.A#Vaariyamkunnan. Filming begins in 2021, on the 100th anniversary." This film is being directed by Ashiq Abu who takes the different take from his predecessor. Veteran theatre and writer Ibrahim Vengara is the second person to go forward with the same theme and has titled his proposed film as, "The Great Vaariyum Kunathu". "I have given the script of the film to a few people and this was reported in the media also. The location of the film would be in Kannur. Apart from leading Malayalam actors, others would be from other languages and lead actress would be an African lady," wrote Vengara. Ali Akbar, a popular film personality and a fellow traveller of the BJP, is the third person who have announced the film and wrote in his Facebook "We have made the decision. People will see the real face of 1921 in 2021 Should be with you, Truth wins." The fourth in line is former legislator and CPI-M fellow traveller P.T.Kunju Muhammed, who has also announced that he is going ahead with his film on the same subject. Apart from, Ali Akbar, all the others stick to original hero character. Popular director and general secretary of FEFKA (an umbrella organisations) B.Unnikrishnan said there is nothing wrong in different films coming out on the same theme. "All are entitled to do what they like," said Unnikrishnan. Emergency meeting of the bloc initiated by Egypt was rejected by Libyas internationally recognised government. Arab foreign ministers said on Tuesday that they wanted to avoid a new battle in Libya and called for a truce as the warring sides mobilise near the main oil region as their foreign backers threaten an escalation. Libya is passing through a dangerous turn in the course of its conflict, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement. The military option will not achieve victory for any side and the military action will not bring peace or establish stability on the Libyan soil, Gheit told an online emergency meeting of the foreign ministers. The meeting was called by Egypt to discuss the latest developments in its neighbour. The political solution is the only way to settle the Libyan crisis, he said after an online meeting of the blocs foreign ministers. A ceasefire on all battlefronts, especially around Sirte, will enable the Libyan parties to re-engage in the United Nations-brokered negotiations to reach an agreement for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire all over the country, Abul Gheit said. Prior to the meeting, Libyas internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) rejected Egypts invitation to hold a meeting, saying that calls for peace talks were being initiated by allies of the eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. Earlier in the week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called on the GNA to stop its counteroffensive against Haftars forces east of the capital, Tripoli, threatening military intervention and criticising Turkish involvement in Libya. Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdulwahed, reporting from the capital Tripoli, said that the GNA rejected any Egyptian initiative, as it accused Cairo of declaring war against Libya. They say Egypt violated Libyas sovereignty by threatening to intervene in the country, he said. Libyas internationally recognised government is planning to downsize its diplomatic representation in the Arab League on account of what it calls the double standard the league adopted in relation to the Libyan crisis. Dangerous game In a sign of convergence between France and Egypt, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he could understand the legitimate concern of el-Sisi. I dont want in six months, or one year or two, to see that Libya is in the situation that Syria is in today, said Macron, who also accused fellow NATO member Turkey of playing a dangerous game in Libya. 200622060838289 Meanwhile, Turkeys foreign ministry hit back at French criticism of its intervention in Libya in support of the GNA, saying Macron must have suffered an eclipse of the mind to oppose Ankaras support for the Tripoli-based government. The current troubles in Libya are caused by the attacks of putschist Haftar, whom [Macron] supports and who is a warlord who refused ceasefire accords in Moscow and Berlin, Turkeys Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said, referring to international efforts to end the fighting in January. Libyas front lines have shifted rapidly in recent months as Ankaras increased backing helped the GNA drive Haftars eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) from Tripoli and the northwest. LNA withdrawal The LNA, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt, has fallen back as far as Sirte, on the central Mediterranean coastline, where air raids have stopped the GNA advance. Both sides are now preparing to battle for Sirte. The LNA retreat to Sirte was a blow to Haftar, whose goal of uniting Libya by force after years of chaos and division hinged on the offensive he launched in April 2019 to capture Tripoli. Any further advance by the GNA would give it the chance to take back control over Libyas oil crescent, the region where most of the OPEC members energy is produced and exported. 00620105302306 Its military success in recent weeks has depended partly on the support of Turkish drones, which targeted LNA supply lines and troop formations. Last month, the United States said Russia had flown warplanes to an LNA base and last week, it said they were now operating in the vicinity of Sirte. However, diplomats say a new battle for the town the western gateway to Libyas main oil terminals could still be avoided, particularly if Turkey and Russia can hash out an agreement. Russia said on Tuesday that it wanted a ceasefire in Libya and denied a UN report last month that said it had up to 1,200 mercenaries fighting in the country. The rains have started again, with some parts of Accra being submerged after the heavy downpour that occurred at dawn last Monday and on Wednesday evening. Many residents of and around the central business district (CBD) have been left stranded and displaced. At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange and its adjoining areas, the downpour destroyed properties worth thousands of cedis. In February this year, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) warned that floods were going to increase in Accra this year due to the low resilience of the area to adapt to heavy rains. It is, therefore, not surprising that Mondays rains, which started about 1 a.m., left some places in the city flooded, displacing families and destroying properties. It was reported in the news that five persons had been confirmed dead in the floods that followed the torrential rains. The most affected areas were Odawna, Alajo, the western part of the Graphic Road, Kaneshie, the Mallam Junction and Achimota. Earlier, the GMET had urged individuals residing in low-lying areas in Accra to move to higher grounds or safer places before the rains set in, adding that there should also be an improvement in the capacity of the national health systems and national platforms for disaster risk reduction. As a result of this warning, in March this year, four local assemblies in Accra said they were prepared to contain any floods this year. The assemblies were the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Weija-Gbawe, Ga South and the Korley Klottey Municipal assemblies. They said detailed plans had been drawn to avert flooding in their localities during this rainy season, including educating residents to adopt good environmental practices and de-silting gutters and drains. However, it appears the plans were not detailed enough to forestall the annual ritual. Every year, we lose lives and properties to these perennial floods, yet, like the proverbial vulture, we keep procrastinating and we dont prepare ahead to avert such deadly incidents of floods. As we know, flooding in the country occurs regularly. Many blame the degradation of the city's rivers and drainage systems. We all have a responsibility to prevent such annual disasters. We appeal to the local assemblies to play their part by ensuring that all illegal structures and buildings on watercourses are removed to prevent floods and other disasters. The Mirror would also urge all and sundry to refrain from compounding the problem by throwing garbage and other waste materials into open drains that end up choking the gutters and causing floods in the communities. The recalcitrant ones should be made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others to safe lives and properties. 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 Vietnam eyes place in worlds top 10 farm produce processing hubs The agriculture ministry has devised measures to turn Vietnam into one of the worlds most 15 developed countries in terms of agriculture by 2030, and among the top 10 farm produce processing hubs. Harvesting the 2020 spring rice crop in Hoa Binh commune of Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province (Photo: VNA) This is the goal set in the Prime Ministers Directive No. 25/CT-TTg on several tasks and solutions for developing agro-forestry-fishery processing and agricultural mechanisation. Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (AgroTrade) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said over the last 10 years, the processing industry has posted a considerable growth rate of 5-7 percent annually, helping to raise agricultural exports to 41.2 billion USD in 2019 ranking 15th in the world and second in Southeast Asia. There are 7,500 businesses involved in agricultural processing across the country at present. However, he noted, to achieve the target set in the directive, the processing industry must optimise local comparative advantages and tap into potential to make breakthrough development. Firstly, processing facilities should be relocated to concentrated material supplying areas. Clusters of processing and sale facilities need to be developed in the localities and areas with large agricultural output, favourable conditions in terms of transports, logistics and workforce, and potential to become growth engines of their regions like the Mekong Delta, southeastern and northwestern regions. The sector will also increase the proportion of intensive processing that generates high added value, Toan said. Secondly, an open and optimal business climate will be created to facilitate investment in agricultural processing and mechanisation, the official noted, adding that the ministry will continue abolishing unnecessary administrative procedures and business conditions while perfecting specific investment attraction policies for each region. Thirdly, international-level enterprises with high competitiveness will be developed to lead the domestic processing industry. Small- and medium-sized firms also need to be fostered to boost the purchase of raw farm produce, according to him. Fourthly, the agricultural sector will step up developing science-technology and human resources, he went on, elaborating that more advanced and environmentally friendly technologies will be applied, and mechanical engineering companies will be encouraged to help with agricultural mechanisation, thereby forming smart farming models. The MARD will also work with other ministries and sectors to develop human resources to prepare high-quality personnel for operating major processing plants, Toan added. Court sketch of Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers, 18, and Jessie Cole, 18, as they sit in the dock at the Old Bailey in London, and right, Pc Harper. (Elizabeth Cook/PA Images) A police officer was killed in truly shocking circumstances after being dragged behind a car for more than a mile, a court has been told. The new trial of three teenagers accused of killing Pc Andrew Harper began on Tuesday after the previous case saw jurors go into self-isolation due to the governments coronavirus rules. The officer was 28 when he died after becoming entangled in a tow rope as he tried to apprehend quad bike thieves in Berkshire in August, the court heard. His colleagues tried to save him but he died at the scene near Sulhamstead. Defendant Henry Long, 19, of Mortimer, Reading, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, now 18, could not previously named as they were below age but jurors were told they were in the same vehicle. Cole, from Aldermaston, and Bowers, of Mortimer, both deny murder. All three have admitted conspiring to steal a quad bike. An aerial view of the scene at Ufton Lane, near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, where Pc Andrew Harper was killed. (PA Images) Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that Pc Harper and colleague Pc Andrew Shaw had been due to finish their shift at 7pm on 15 August, but were still working at 11.15pm. They responded to a report of a theft of a quad bike from a home in Bradfield Southend. The court was told the three defendants were the thieves. Despite it being well beyond the end of their shift, because they were close and because thought they could help, they responded to the call, prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said. It was going beyond the call of duty, as it were, and it would cost Andrew Harper his life. Opening the new trial, Laidlaw said: Im afraid Pc Harper was killed in truly shocking circumstances. The court was told the three arrived at the property at 11.10pm, with Cole sitting on the towed quad bike and Long driving the car, a Seat Toledo, but they encountered the unmarked police car with Pc Harper and Pc Shaw. Long mounted the verge to get around the police vehicle, which flashed its emergency lights, jurors heard. Laidlaw said Cole removed a loop of strapping from the quad bikes handlebars, which laid loose on the ground. Cole then tried to get into the Seat. Story continues Pc Harper ran to intercept Cole, the court was told, and came close to grabbing him but Cole dived through one of the cars windows. Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers, 18, and Jessie Cole, 18, as they sit in the dock at the Old Bailey in London. (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Long then drove off at speed, Laidlaw said, but Pc Harper must have stepped into the loop of strapping that was trailing behind the car, jurors heard. With his ankles caught in a strap that was trailing behind a car being driven along a country lane, he was dragged at speed for over a mile along the road surface, swung from side to side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him, Laidlaw told the court. During the course of that high-speed journey, and until at last he became disentangled, his police uniform was quite literally ripped and stripped from his body. Henry Long sped off, Pc Harper was lassoed around his ankles by the loop of the strap. It will be obvious to you all that none of the defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen. But the prosecution case is that it must have been very quickly clear to Henry Long, who was after all at the wheel of the car, that the vehicle was now dragging somebody behind it. He said all three men should have realised what would happen and described Pc Harpers death as a virtual certainty. An eyewitness initially thought the Seat was towing the carcass of a bloodied deer, but quickly he realised it was a person trapped by both ankles being dragged around the road and striking the kerb, Laidlaw told jurors. Pc Shaw realised he could no longer see Pc Harper, and only found his stab vest in the road, having been torn off. He later found Pc Harper barely alive, with officers attending unable to save him. The three defendants were arrested later at a nearby travellers site. The trial continues. Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritania will provide Senegal with 450,000 sheep for the great Muslim feast of Tabaski, scheduled in a few weeks time, which is expected to fall at a time of the coronavirus pandemic, causing the closure of borders to limit its spread, PANA learned after a virtual meeting on Monday between government officials of the two countries Back in 2011, the United States and China both introduced electronic fire control systems for 40mm long-barrel grenade launchers. Nearly a decade later, both of these longer range, highly accurate 40mm weapons are still in production. Both are niche weapons and popular enough to keep getting made and upgraded. The Chinese LG5 is a 13 kg (28 pound) semi-automatic weapon that is 1.23 meters (49 inches) long and uses a drum magazine holding up to 50 rounds. The LG5 is available in different versions for 40x53mm NATO or Chinese grenades as well as 35x32mm grenades for the Chinese army version of the weapon (the QLU-11). Both versions use the same type of computerized fire control system that enables accurate fire out to 2,000 meters. At shorter ranges, usually about 600 meters, the LG5 can put grenades through a window or doorway. The LG5 can also use fire an airburst grenade to hit targets behind an obstacle. China described the LG5 as a sniper weapon and it certainly was a 40/35mm grenade launcher capable of unusual accuracy for such weapons. The American Mk 19 was developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1970s for use on river and coastal patrol boats. The Mk19 didnt see much combat until the 1991 Gulf War when the army and marines recognized it as a very effective weapon in open land areas, not just open water. From the beginning, the Mk19 was quite effective with the usual iron sights found on rifles for over a century. But users noted the electronic sights becoming available for rifles and machine-guns in the late 1990s. Eventually, in 2011, an electronic sight was developed that worked with the Mk 19, producing a very accurate long-barrel 40mm automatic grenade launcher. This electronic sight, combining a GPS, laser rangefinder and computer, was called the Mk19 FCS (Fire Control System). The FCS enabled gunners to put the first round on the target, at extreme ranges; over 2,000 meters. The FCS can also fire an accurate pattern of 40mm grenades at those same ranges. Moreover, the GPS enables an FCS equipped Mk19 to accurately fire on a target the gunner can't see. The FCS also has a camera, which can mark targets, out to 5,000 meters, on a photo, which can be then transmitted to other troops or headquarters. The FCS is also very easy to use for anyone with Mk19 experience. You laze the target to obtain range, and then use the aiming dot in the sight to mark where the rounds will go. Getting the first rounds on the target is very important because once those 40mm rounds start going off, the enemy will dive for cover. With the older sights, the first round was a guess by the gunner, and usually close, but not on the target. Subsequent rounds were on target, but by then many of the enemy troops were behind cover. The FCS was but one of many improvements. Mk19 gunners loved the new sight and the word has quickly gotten around. This created so much demand that the army had problems getting FCS, which were still technically in development in 2011, to all the troops who were demanding it. While the FCS was still in development, work began on a new lighter and more effective Mk47 model grenade launcher that had an even more capable integrated FCS. The Mk47 was available in 2009 but it was not innovative enough to replace the MK19. For users, the Mk19 gut the job done and was cheaper and the troops liked it and knew what it could do in combat. The Mk19 was improved with a new recoil system that kept the weapon steadier when firing. This improved accuracy, especially when the Mk19 was used from a moving vehicle. The Mk47 is lighter (18.2 kg/40 pounds) than the 35 kg (77 pound) Mk19. It is a little more compact and has the electronic sighting and arming system which enables the gunner to determine the distance of the target (with a laser range finder), then push a button to have the weapon electronically program each shell, just before it is fired, for the number of seconds until the shell will explode, at the proper range from the gun, and above the enemy troops. If the time fuze does not work, the shell explodes when it hits something. The Mk47 can also operate like the Mk19, using "dumb" ammo that lacks the time fuze. This is what the new FCS does for the Mk19. Both these 40mm weapons have a max range of 2,000 meters and an effective range of about 1,500 meters. The Mk19 weapon, with a tripod, weighs 61.8 kg (136 pounds), while each 48 round magazine weighs 27.3 kg (60 pounds). There is a new, lighter, tripod available, that reduces weight by 13.2 kg (29 pounds) The Mk19 effective rate of fire is about one round per second and is usually fired in short (a few rounds) bursts of these 542 gram (19 ounce) grenades. These individual 40mm grenades can kill or incapacitate most people within six meters of the explosion and can wound at twice that. The Mk19 is more complex than your usual machine-gun, expensive (about $20,000 each) and jams more frequently (once every thousand rounds, compared to once every 10,000 rounds for the M2 12.7mm machine-gun.). But it is reliable enough to remain popular and in demand. The lighter Mk47 costs about 50 percent more and is about as reliable as the Mk19. The LG5 is semi-automatic and finally got some combat experience in Yemen, where Saudi forces began using it in 2018. The Saudi troops were satisfied and more LG5s were ordered. On cyber attack on India, US says cannot allow China to dominate How a warning about ShadowPad, Red Echo saved the national power grid from being hacked RedEcho cyber attack: Ports in TN, Mumbai, scores of power assets in India came under attack Are you a vicim of cyber fraud? Here is the new national helpline number Agencies continue to thwart China cyber attacks on India India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 23: Amidst the tensions at the border, Indian agencies have warned that China would look to unleash a series of cyber attacks. Attempts are being made every minute to carry out cyber attacks and so far the Indian agencies have been successful in thwarting most of them. Activity has been particularly high since early June. On June 18, the Indian agencies had said that China had opened another front of attacks with the Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks on the Indian information websites. Over 1 lakh national IDs including Aadhaar, PAN card of Indians put on dark net for sale: Cyber The attacks are also on the country's financial payments system, Intelligence Bureau officials have told OneIndia. Army sources revealed there was a mutual consensus to disengage at India China top military talks The DDOS attacks are malicious attempts to hit a network by flooding it with artificially created internet traffic. The IB source says that several targets such as ATMs, banking systems and government websites have been zeroed in on. Investigations have shown that these attacks have been traced to Chengdu, which is the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army's Unit 61398. However, all the attacks were unsuccessful and they were thwarted. Meanwhile, Indian Intelligence agencies have flagged the use of several Chinese apps stating that they are capable of extracting a large amount of data. These include Zoom, Tik Tok, UC Browser, Shareit, Xender and Clean Master. The intel has said that these apps had the potential to be used as spyware and this could be detrimental to national security. In April, the Union Home Ministry had issued an advisory on the secure use of Zoom meeting platform by private individuals. It said that it not for use by government offices, officials or official purposes. The advisory said that Zoom is not a safe platform. Those private individuals who would still like to use Zoom for private purposes may follow the guidelines, the MHA had also said. Once again Donald Trump has decided to suspend H-1B, H-2B, and some categories of H-4 and L visas till the end of 2020. Trump said that the step is taken to help local workers in a time of crisis that the pandemic has caused. Though the decision has faced many criticisms he also said that the work visas are now suspended till December 31st. Twitter/Narendra Modi He said, We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L non-immigrant visa programs, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the extraordinary economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, he added. BCCL This decision will hit Indian nationals directly. According to ET, around 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issues each year are usually Indian nationals. Also, according to the order the restrictions are only applicable to new work visas and not to the ones that have already been issued. This ban comes into effect from June 24. Heres how desi people on Twitter criticized the new order- Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by todays proclamation - well continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all. Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 22, 2020 The suspension of the H1B visa program is bad for the US, bad for innovation, and will shatter dreams and disrupt lives. As a former H1B visa holder, my heart goes out to all the families affected. Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg) June 23, 2020 Trump has suspended H1B visas. About 70% of H1B visas are issued to Indians. This is an immense blow for Indian professionals. Does PM Modi have the guts to call Trump & object to this? Modi campaigns for Trump, and yet, this is how much Trump cares for Modis friendship. Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 23, 2020 While people started expressing their disappointment on Twitter #NamsteTrump also started trending. #NamasteTrump Modiji talking to trump in this hard times of USA- pic.twitter.com/2KKDikqfpV (@main_wo_hu) June 23, 2020 Trump supported india to become #atmanirbhar by suspending H1B visas #NamasteTrump Le trump to bhakts pic.twitter.com/TS9X3mO0L6 Zoha007 (@Zoha0071) June 23, 2020 Govt. spent milions on #NamasteTrump for Doland. Now Doland suspended H1-B visas. Indian IT companies and professionals to suffer worse. Everyone to Doland - pic.twitter.com/yoCbRWiFti sheku (@kawaii_acid) June 23, 2020 #NamasteTrump India spent a lot of money to welcome Trump nd trump banned Indian visas pic.twitter.com/TyPRaoqcGZ Xi Xi Jini ping (@satymmmm) June 23, 2020 Namaste Trump Trump Suspending H1-B visas for one year Bhakts right now #NamasteTrump #ModiBetrayedIndia pic.twitter.com/4pO3zmudLg Ovais (@ahmedOvais47) June 23, 2020 Well, this is news that has shocked the people across the world and all we can hope is that we dont get anymore shockers. HOUSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SecurityGate.io, a cybersecurity software company that helps organizations become leaders and experts at managing cyber risk in OT/ICS environments, announced today that it has raised a Series A funding round. The financing was led by Houston Ventures. SecurityGate.io provides an industry-first, Integrated Risk Management platform specifically for operational technology (OT)/industrial control system (ICS) cybersecurity. The Software as a Service (SaaS) platform gives company leaders, governance risk and compliance departments, and IT teams unmatched visibility into OT/ICS environments. Having visibility for risk management in critical infrastructure environments has become a significant challenge for companies from Critical Industry Sectors such as maritime, oil and gas, chemical, manufacturing, and defense. Although the ICS security market is growing at a CAGR of 20% with a wide range of cybersecurity offerings, SecurityGate.io has found a highly underserved segment of that market in dire need of transformational help. Most ICS security offerings are focused on detecting and dealing with in-progress threats. Virtually no technical advancements have been made to transform the highly manual, spreadsheet-based assessment and remediation processes CISOs use to establish, evaluate, and advance their cyber programs. SecurityGate.io's platform uses intelligent systems to help CISOs easily understand business risk and build a strategy to mitigate the risk of cyber threats. Risk management teams use the platform to automate processes and speed up the time it typically takes to implement the prescribed tactics. SecurityGate.io has validated the problems facing these underserved teams and their solution to it. They recently signed on Chevron, who joined ranks with other SecurityGate.io customers like Patterson UTI and Westlake Chemical. "The problems our platform solves have come directly from our experience building and running cybersecurity risk management programs in the OT/ICS space," said Cherise Esparza, CTO. "We were the ones running assessments, auditing reports, and providing guidance to leadership teams for some of the largest companies in the world. We were constantly saying, 'There has to be an easier way to do this.' That led to the start of SecurityGate.io." Houston Ventures led the capital raise. About the relationship with SecurityGate.io, Chip Davis, Managing Partner at Houston Ventures, said, "It was very attractive to us how tightly tuned SecurityGate.io is to the needs of their customers. Successful enterprise software companies generally know they are instruments of change for their customers. The code is but one element of a project where customer results are similar to the expectations going in. Our discussions with the company's customers revealed a state of maturity of SecurityGate.io beyond what we typically see in younger companies. Based on customer feedback, we could not pass on this deal." "Digital transformation is no easy task in highly dynamic environments, especially when the risk of cyberattacks keeps rising daily. We're excited to partner with Houston Ventures who sees this market growing, and our clients that see our vision of the future," says Ted Gutierrez, CEO. About SecurityGate.io SecurityGate.io is a Houston-based software company that provides an integrated risk management platform designed specifically for OT/ICS cybersecurity. Founded and led by cybersecurity risk management experts, Ted Gutierrez, CEO, and Cherise Esparza, CTO, the company draws experience with team members from Noble Drilling, Shell, Bureau Veritas, Enbridge Energy, Ernst & Young, PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Alert Logic, and Rackspace. SecurityGate.io helps companies in critical industry sectors who must maintain compliance standards and improve risk management efforts to get ahead of risks threatening operations and team safety. Learn more at www.securitygate.io and connect on LinkedIn. About Houston Ventures Houston Ventures is a Houston-based investment firm focused on early and growth-stage technology companies solving operational problems in the energy sector. Learn more at http://www.houven.com. Contact: SecurityGate.io Matt Wilbanks [email protected] SOURCE SecurityGate.io A balloon carrying images of North Korean ruling Kim family members is found in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. It was one of 20 balloons that were flown by a North Korean defectors' group here, Monday night. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo A North Korean defectors' group floated hundreds of thousands of anti-North Korea leaflets across the border, Monday night, adding fuel to the already-tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. In response, the police are set to apprehend those who were involved in the campaign that the government believes violates the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act According to Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK), it floated 20 balloons carrying 500,000 anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border from Paju, Gyeonggi Province. FFNK Chairman Park Sang-hak, said 500 pamphlets depicting the South's success story, 2,000 U.S. one-dollar bills and 1,000 SD cards were also sent to the North, along with the leaflets. Usually, the leaflets criticize the authoritarian regime and urge North Korean people to revolt against their leader Kim Jong-un. The distribution of leaflets by activists as well as North Korean defectors has long been a major source of tension between the two Koreas as it has led to exchanges of fire in the past. It has taken center stage again recently after Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader's sister and probably the second-most powerful person in the country, complained of the leaflet campaigns earlier this month, threatening to cancel a military agreement signed during the inter-Korean summit, April 27, 2018. Since then, the North's state-run media have slammed the South Korean government's "failure" to stop the "regime-threatening" campaign, and the authorities here have also shown a stern attitude toward the organizers for "causing" inter-Korean tension. Following the government's pledge to crack down on the leaflet sending campaign, the FFNK secretly flew the balloons unlike in earlier open events. ST. PAUL, Minn. Staff members working at the jail that held Derek Chauvin, the white officer charged with murder in the killing of George Floyd, say that only white employees were allowed to guard him when he was first brought to the facility last month. Eight officers have filed complaints with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, saying that the superintendent of the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul kept them from bringing Chauvin to his cell or even being on the same floor as him last month, solely because of their race. The officers, half of whom are black and all of whom are people of color, said the orders from the superintendent, Steve Lydon, who is white, amounted to segregation and indicated that he thought they could not be trusted to do their jobs because they are not white. After initially denying that officers contact with Chauvin had been determined by race, a spokesman for the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office acknowledged the move this weekend and said Lydon had been temporarily removed from the superintendent role as the sheriff investigates the officers claims. Roy Magnuson, the spokesman, provided a statement that he said Lydon gave to investigators. In it, Lydon said he had segregated employees because he believed having people of color interact with Chauvin could have heightened ongoing trauma. He said he had only done so on short notice and for 45 minutes before realizing that he had made a mistake, after which he reversed the order and apologized. Officers said it had lasted longer affecting one shift two days later and that not enough had been done in response. The discrimination complaints, which were first reported by The Star Tribune, were the latest instance in which correctional officials have been accused of giving preferential treatment to a white inmate. Some activists have for years argued that officers were too kind to Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, when they placed him in a bulletproof vest and bought him food from Burger King. Critics said that a black suspect in a similar crime would not have gotten the same treatment. In this case, one of the officers said in his complaint that he had seen, on the jails cameras, a white lieutenant let Chauvin use her phone inside his cell, a violation of the facilitys policy. Magnuson said the Sheriffs Office was opening an internal investigation into that claim. A black sergeant who filed a complaint said in an interview that he was in charge of booking on May 29, when Chauvin was brought to the jail, and that after he had patted Chauvin down, Lydon told him not to have more contact with Chauvin and asked him who could transport the fired officer instead. When the sergeant pointed to two white officers, Lydon seemed satisfied, said the sergeant, who is a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and has worked at the jail for more than a decade. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared retaliation from other law enforcement officers. The officers said in their complaints that employees quickly realized, after Chauvin arrived, that many of the jails nonwhite employees had been sent to the third floor. Some began to cry, they said, and the sergeant said some openly questioned whether they should quit and considered walking off the job. He said tensions were already high among employees because people had burned down a Minneapolis police precinct the night before in protest of the killing of Floyd, who was black. The sergeant and other officers said that, about an hour after Chauvin was booked into the jail, they were again kept from doing their jobs when an uncooperative inmate needed to be taken to the fifth floor, where Chauvin was being held. The sergeant said the officers had to wait until there were enough white officers to bring the inmate to the fifth floor, a special housing unit where high-profile, uncooperative and suicidal people are held. Bonnie M. Smith, a lawyer in Minneapolis who is representing the eight officers, said at a news conference in front of the jail on Sunday that Lydons claim that his order was meant to protect officers of color was absurd, and that it had made the jail less safe. This order didnt help protect anyone, Smith said. It was a blatantly discriminatory order. She said none of her clients had been interviewed as part of the internal investigation. They are asking the Sheriffs Office to permanently remove Lydon from overseeing the jail and increase bias training. They are also asking the county to pay them unspecified money for emotional distress and compensation for shifts that some officers said they had missed because they were upset by what had happened. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights will investigate the claims. That office had launched a civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department earlier this month. Chauvin was moved, last month, to the Oak Park Heights state prison just outside of St. Paul. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. SAVANNAH, Georgia, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawkeye Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: HWKE) ("Company"), a technology holding company focused on pandemic management products and services, is pleased to announce a partnership with DemeTECH, a world-renowned leader in surgical sutures, mesh and bone wax. Corby Marshall, CEO of Hawkeye Systems, stated, "We are extraordinarily pleased to partner with a global healthcare leader in DemeTECH, an award-winning suture and medical device manufacturer with a superb industry reputation and vast experience distributing its products to over 130 countries. As we continue to bolster our end user network, the Company is confident it can expand this opportunity to deliver American made masks beyond initial expectations while helping to refine our country's pandemic response process." Luis Arguello Sr, President and CEO of DemeTECH, commented, "Evolving our manufacturing capabilities to accommodate the profound need for American made protective masks was a natural progression. Further, we are excited to be aligning with Hawkeye given their unique position in the burgeoning PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) landscape as we approach the review process for attaining the highly-coveted NIOSH approval." Under the terms of the Agreement, Hawkeye Systems has attained the right to DemeTECH production of up to 3,000,000 N95 protective masks per month, as well as an option for additional production for a period of up to 5 years. N95 masks are the most common of the seven types of particulate filtering facepiece respirators. The product filters at least 95% of airborne particulate matter. NIOSH approval, designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is expected to be earned by DemeTECH within sixty days. About DemeTECH Headquartered in Miami, Florida, DemeTECH, is a world-renowned leader in surgical sutures, mesh and bone wax. DemeTECH strives to enhance doctor-patient relationships through hard work, dedication and a commitment to the pursuance of cutting-edge technology and innovation. DemeTECH's N95 masks are made in the USA with American materials. For more information, please visit: https://demetech.us About Hawkeye Systems, Inc. Hawkeye Systems, Inc. is a technology holding company focused on cutting edge technology, pandemic management products and services. The Company is committed to leveraging its extensive resources in support of its ongoing mission to help our government and medical infrastructure keep civilians safe. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "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. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to the body camera system, the potential success of the body camera system, our growth strategy and product development including that of the body camera system, acquisition of Radiant Images, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our dependence on third-party suppliers and partners; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. Important factors that may cause the actual results to differ from those expressed within may include, but are not limited to: the success or failure of Hawkeye's efforts to successfully market its products and services as scheduled; Hawkeye's ability to attract and retain quality employees; the effect of changing economic conditions; increased competition; the ability of Hawkeye to obtain adequate debt or equity financing. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. For more information, please contact: Corby Marshall, CEO Number: +1(800)531-8799 Email: [email protected] Website: hawkeyesystemsinc.com Investor relations - [email protected] SOURCE Hawkeye Systems, Inc. Paul Whelans lawyer says his client does not believe in Russias justice system and pins hopes on prisoner exchange. Paul Whelan, a former US marine convicted last week of spying in Russia, will not appeal the verdict in the hopes that he will soon be exchanged for a Russian prisoner in the United States, according to his lawyer. Whelan, 50, was sentenced by a Moscow court to 16 years in prison on the accusation that he had obtained classified Russian state information, the nature of which has not been disclosed. We decided to not submit an appeal because he does not believe in the Russian justice system, Whelans lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said in comments carried by the Russian news agency Interfax on Tuesday. He hopes that in the near future he will be exchanged for Russians who have been convicted in the US, Zherebenkov said, commenting about a meeting with Whelan at a detention facility earlier in the day. Prisoner swap Zherebenkov has speculated that Whelan could be exchanged for Russian illicit arms dealer Viktor Bout or Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted of conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the US. Both men are in US prisons. The US has denounced the Russian legal proceedings against Whelan and demanded he be immediately released. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after the conviction that it was a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defence witnesses. Whelan was detained while on a trip to Moscow in December 2018. Few details about the case have been made public. By IANS BHOPAL: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MP from Bhopal, fell ill during a programme organised on the death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Tuesday in the BJP office here. She was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. According to the information received from the BJP office, the programme was going on in the party's state office when Thakur felt dizzy. The event was being attended by several leaders of the party. Thakur has been unwell for some time and her eyesight has also been affected. Earlier on June 21, she had participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations held at the BJP office. DACA Regarding Supreme Court ruling on DACA is right one, (A18, June 19): The Dreamers should have a pathway to citizenship. They should not get to go to the front of the line but should just get in line with all the other applicants and go through the process and be vetted like everyone else. One has to wonder why two administrations have not been able to pass legislation to solve this problem. This is especially true for the Obama administration which had control of Congress at one time. There were other opportunities when a deal could have been made but wasn't. An executive order should not be the solution, legislation should be. Robert M. Louie, Houston Regarding President again taking aim at DACA program, (A4, June 20): I am baffled by the longtime failure of Congress to pass legislation to address immigration. Taking into account the overwhelming public support for allowing Dreamers to remain in this country, this bipartisan legislation could address their predicament as well. For me, November cannot come soon enough. Susan Raffle, Houston Coronavirus surge Thank you for publishing the Coronavirus section. The graphical statistics are clear and very easy to interpret by anyone interested and they are alarming. I wonder if Gov. Greg Abbott is interested enough to read these daily reports. . During his June 16 status update, Abbott presented voluminous hospital capacity statistics that he clearly believes will make us feel better about Texas record infection rate. My wife and I are 80 years of age, and hospital capacity offers little solace. This is particularly exasperating because from the beginning he emphasized responsible reopening while protecting the vulnerable. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that 44 percent of Texas COVID-19 deaths occurred in nursing homes. We are fortunate that we can stay isolated at home because of heroes who risk their lives working in grocery stores and delivery services. And many of them are among the vulnerable because they live in underserved communities where COVID-19 deaths are statistically higher. Houston was a success story praised by President Donald Trump until Abbott took over and usurped the local leadership provided by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner. Kenneth Meyers, Houston Our governor, in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases plans to encourage further opening of the economy since the hospitals still have available beds. When they fill we can fall back on the availability of room in the cemeteries of Texas. Manley Mandel, Houston - Several beneficial features like low maintenance, water resistance, durability, stylish designs and cost-effectiveness serve as pillars of growth for ceramic tiles market - Considerable rise in construction activities across the world, and the use of ceramic tiles to improve the decor of a space may attract growth for ceramic tiles market ALBANY, New York, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The ceramic tiles market is expanding at a rapid pace in the wake of the wave of urbanization across the globe. More than half of the global populace resides in urban areas and the number is expected to rise in the near future. Hence, the ballooning trend of urbanization directly resonates with the growth of the ceramic tiles market. Increase in renovation activities followed by enhanced living standards is a key pointer for driving demand for ceramic tiles in the residential segment to a great extent. The research analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) predict a healthy CAGR for the global ceramic tiles market across the forecast period of 2019-2027. The global ceramic tiles market was valued at ~US$ 88.0 bn in 2018 and is anticipated to grow further at more than 9.0% CAGR during the forecast period of 2019-2027. Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1688 Ceramic tiles are the preferred flooring choice in residential as well as non-residential segments prominently for the diverse benefits they offer such as water resistance, easy cleaning surfaces, and stylish designs. Key findings of Ceramic Tiles Market Of all product types in the ceramic tiles market, the floor tiles segment is estimated to expand at a roaring pace in the ceramic tiles market; the floor tile segment accounted for more than 50% in 2018 The residential segment weighed more than 40% in terms of ceramic tiles market share in 2018 and expects to shine as the largest application segment stakeholder during the forecast period The increase in novel construction activities across the residential segment will influence the new residential segment greatly; hence, this segment is predicted to display a CAGR of more than 10% during 2019 to 2027 Amongst all regions, Asia Pacific acquired a significant market share, that is, 60% in 2018 and is expected to continue the good performance throughout the forecast period Explore 230 pages of in-depth research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections. Analyze and discover the latest developments in the Ceramic Tiles Market (Product: Floor Tiles, Wall Tiles, and Others; and Application: Residential Replacement, Commercial, New Residential, and Industrial) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/ceramic-tiles-market.htm Ceramic tiles market: Key Driving Factors and Growth Generating Aspects The growing preference of consumers to use ceramic tiles for residential and commercial purposes may bolster the growth of ceramic tiles market Ceramic tiles help in keeping a pollution-free environment and do not attract or hold dirt, pollen or other allergens; if noticed, they can be easily removed by a mop or sponge due to the glazing surface of the ceramic tiles The humungous urbanization activity is proving to be a prime growth factor for the ceramic tiles market and continues to make strides across the world Other advantages such as easy installation and replacement promise good growth opportunities for the ceramic tiles market Easy resource availability and the presence of a diverse industrial base may place Asia Pacific in the front row of growth in the front row of growth India and China may contribute largely to the growth of the ceramic tiles market due to a substantial rise in construction activities across various parts of the country View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/1688 Ceramic Tiles Market: Competitive Analysis The ceramic tiles market displays fierce competition among numerous manufacturers. Key players bring substantial growth opportunities for the ceramic tiles market through mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships. Some well-known names of the players involved in the production of ceramic tiles are China Ceramic Co. Ltd, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Ceramics, Gruppo Concorde S.p.A., China Ceramics Co. Ltd, Kale Group, Johnson Tiles, Siam Cement Group, and Mohawk Industries, Inc. Purchase Premium Research Report on Global Ceramic Tiles Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=1688